POOLE Pirates ace Anders Rowe has been selected as track reserve for the upcoming British Grand Prix in Cardiff.

The Weymouth-born racer has enjoyed a good season, despite starting the year without a team place.

Rowe now rides for King’s Lynn in the Premiership, as well as Pirates, where he recently dropped down from the main body of the team into a reserve berth.

The 21-year-old contributed 8+3 for Poole in Wednesday’s victory over Redcar Bears in the SGB Championship, taking his overall tally this term to 105+25 from 79 races.

And the Great Britain youngster will now serve as a reserve at the Principality Stadium on September 2, alongside Jason Edwards, where he will hope to get a chance to compete in front of the bumper crowd.

“I have been riding my socks off lately and having fun,” said Rowe.

“Having the chance to race in Cardiff as a reward is a dream to me. I have dreamed of racing in Cardiff since I was a little kid. I am really looking forward to it.

“My idol growing up was Jason Crump, and then I watched Chris Holder and all the other top boys race there. It’s incredible in an arena that size.

“With so many fans in there going crazy, it gives you goosebumps. It gives you goosebumps as a fan. I can’t wait for that feeling as a rider.

“I hope I get a ride and I can go out there and mix it. I think I will definitely hear the fans. I won’t hear the bike – that’s for sure.

“I am going to take it all in and learn as much as I can from the experience. I will learn so much. I will keep learning and try to take as much as I can away from it, being in the pits and watching the top boys.

“If I get a ride, it’s a bonus. I will go out there and do my best – as I have been everywhere. I’ll be there with a smile on my face and if I get a ride, it will be an even bigger smile.

“It will be an awesome experience. I think I’ll love it. I can’t wait for qualifying practice on the Friday, to go out and spin some laps. I’ll go out there, have fun and see what time I put on the board.”

Rowe, who will don the number 17 jacket, will get a chance to ride should any of the regular 16-man line-up be penalised for starting offences or suffer a withdrawal.

Poole Pirates captain Steve Worrall is set to compete at the event, having been awarded the wild card following his second-placed finish at the recent British Final.

Fellow Brit Dan Bewley won the Grand Prix in Cardiff last year.