SPEEDWAY sorcerer Jason Crump and apprentice Simon Stead will forget they are pals for a few hours on Saturday.

Rising Belle Vue star Stead has been handed a wild card entry into the British Grand Prix at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium where his rivals include Aces' captain and World Championship pacesetter Crump.

Crump has given the Sheffield lad the benefit of his vast experience ever since he moved up to Elite League racing with the Fonestyle UK Aces at the start of last season, helping pin-up boy Stead to blossom into a world force.

But that will fly out of the pit gate on Saturday as the 30-year-old Australian bids to extend his lead after three of the 10 GP meetings.

Stead said: "Jason has helped me a lot since I came to Belle Vue and even before that when I was riding for Workington in the Premier League.

"In fact, he's a great influence on us all in the Belle Vue pits but he's not going to give too much away going up to Cardiff.

"Jason is a great mentor and it's good to see him flying high in the Grand Prix. I just want to be in it with him full-time next season."

Decision

Stead firmly rejects criticism that he was wrong to leave his entry into big-time speedway until he was nearly 22 but the tearaway Tyke, now 24, has been in a hurry ever since.

He has justified the decision to delay his big step-up, taken at a meeting of family and respected friends, in the best way possible - on the track. Stead's message to the critics is simple: "We did what we thought was best for me and have no regrets about it."

That's not his only answer. He was famously called back from holiday in Tenerife last season to ride for Great Britain in the World Cup, a selection which was the highlight of his first year as an Ace.

His career has continued to pick up speed this season as he cashes in on the experience and lessons he learned last year.

Stead is the top Brit in the Elite League averages, even heading Grand Prix stars Scott Nicholls, the Great Britain captain, and Lee Richardson. But the real crunch time starts next week when the calendar flips over to June.

Atmosphere

Stead's greatest ambition is to qualify for the Grand Prix and he gets the chance to prove his worth in Cardiff when a crowd of more than 40,000 will pile in for speedway's showpiece meeting to give him a taste of the big-time atmosphere.

Then, on June 11, he means to make home advantage pay when he races in the Championship of Great Britain at Belle Vue. The title is the major target on the day but the meeting is also a qualifier for the 2007 Grand Prix and Stead is desperate to progress. Next, Britain team boss Neil Middleditch will be naming his squad later in the month for the World Cup and there's no way, on current form, Stead won't be in it.

It's a high-pressure workload for a rider still with a long way to go but he has proved he's willing to listen and that's one of the reasons for his sharp learning curve.

He said: "I'm really excited about riding at Cardiff. It's another stepping stone for me and I mean to take full advantage of it.

"I spent a lot of money on machinery this winter and, so far, it is paying off because this season has gone well for me.

"I went to Cardiff last year as a reserve and had a race or two but this time I'm riding in the full meeting and that's a big difference."

Ironically, Stead and Crump will be team-mates again on Sunday when they chase the é6,000 first prize in the Elite League Pairs championship at Swindon.

Stead added: "Jason and I have talked about it and he sees no reason why we can't have a good crack at it. It certainly gives me confidence that he thinks I can win it with him.

"I had a problem with smaller tracks when I came to Belle Vue but I've sorted it out and I'm getting experience on big tracks now I'm riding in the Polish and Swedish leagues."

Do you think Stead can beat Crump? Have your say.