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NEWS
Ward to make senior debut in Poland
Has been handed a wildcard berth for the next round of the world speedway title in the sport's heartlandAustralia’s dual world under 21 speedway champion Darcy Ward will make his much-anticipated senior debut in Poland on Saturday, August 27.
The 19-year-old Australian has been handed the wildcard berth, where he will compete against countrymen Jason Crump and Chris Holder – who were also his team-mates in Australia’s recent silver-winning Speedway World Cup campaign.
The Queenslander was honoured to be told he would be mixing it with the sport’s elite and admits reaching the semi-finals on one of Polish speedway’s grandest stages would be “unbelievable”.
"When I got the phone call I wasn’t shocked,” said Ward, who currently leads the averages in the 2011 British Elite League. I knew I had been going pretty well and I’m a two-time under-21 champ. I knew they would look at me. But I was pretty honoured to say ‘yes’.
“I’ll be bringing my dad over for it as it’s a big moment for my family as well. They’re very proud.
“I’m really looking forward to it. If I made the semis, that would be unbelievable, but just to score some points, have some fun and be in the Grand Prix is what I am going for.
“I suppose I’ve beaten these guys in the leagues, but when they all come together in one big meeting, it’s pretty hardcore.”
Ward joined his close friend Holder’s GP pit crew last season in a bid to get a sneak preview of life in the world championship.
After years of riding as teammates at Poole and Lejonen, they will lock horns as rivals on the GP stage for the first time in Torun.
“It was always going to happen,” Ward said. “But we’ll race each other like it’s anyone else. I’m happy and everyone like Chris and Davey (Watt) is pretty stoked for me. But now I’ve got to go and race against Chris and that will be interesting.”
Holder and Crump are fourth and sixth respectively in the 2011 title, with American veteran Greg Hancock the leader from reigning world champion Tomasz Gollob.
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