Worrall clinches final spot

Richie Worrall: Has progressed into U-21 final (Pic credit TSG Photos)

Great Britain starlet Richie Worrall has became the first British rider to qualify for the World Under-21 final for three years.

Worrall who rides for Lakeside Hammers in the Elite League and Newcastle Diamonds in the Premier League, came through the semi-final at Terenzano in Italy on Saturday night.

Worrall was the only Brit to make it through as Kyle Newman and Tom Perry bowed out, meaning he is the first man to do so since Tai Woffinden and Lewis Bridger in 2009.

GB Youth co-boss Phil Morris said: "It's a fantastic achievement from Richie and we're all really proud of him. Now he's made it into the Final, he's determined to make his mark in the series."

The World Under-21 final will be staged over a record seven rounds this season, starting at Italian track Lonigo on July 21. The competition moves to Lendava in Slovenia on August 4, before British club Coventry stages round three on August 17.

Polish Ekstraliga venue Tarnow is next on September 15, before the last of the European rounds takes place at Czech circuit Pardubice during Golden Helmet weekend on October 13.

The title will then be decided with a double header at Argentine track Bahia Blanca on November 3 and 10.

Amongst the other qualifiers were highly fancied Poles Patryk Dudek and Bartosz Zmarzlik, whilst defending champion Maciej Janowski is also through.

Danes Michael Jepsen Jensem, Mikkel B Jensen and Mikkel Michelsen will also line-up.