SWINDON Robins racer Adam Ellis hopes familiar surroundings will help him finally be crowned British U21 champion this evening.

Ellis and Swindon team-mate Zach Wajtkencht will be among the 16-strong field at Poole Pirates’ Wimborne Road stadium tonight, bidding to claim the title for the best young rider in the country.

The French-born star, who helped Great Britain win a silver medal at the World Cup last summer, has already finished on the podium twice at this competition but having turned 21 just over a month ago, knows this is his final opportunity to finish on the top step.

Ellis finished as runner-up at Monmore Green in Wolverhampton in 2014 and last year he was third at Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium but he could not have wished for a better track to claim the elusive title.

He spent the 2016 season at Poole before switching to the Robins for the current campaign and Ellis believes that experience could be crucial to his quest.

“I spent all year at Poole last year and I think I only probably had one bad meeting there,” said Ellis, who has only recently returned to action after suffering a broken scaphoid earlier this month.

“I am really looking forward to it, I will give it a real go. It’ll be a tough one but I am ready for it.

“The two I did well at were at Wolves and Sheffield. It’s difficult riding at a track you don’t go to a lot so having it at Poole is going to be a massive help. Fingers crossed I can get a good result.

“The wrist is pretty good, it’s a little bit sore but that’s to be expected. It’s not ideal at the start of the year and when you are having a bit of a rough time, you don’t want to be off the bike for too long.

“It’s been good to get back fairly quickly. I’ve had a few meetings so I can start to put my mind at rest.

“It’s my last year doing the U21s so hopefully it goes well. I want to win but after the start to the season I’ve had, I’ll be happy with a top three – but I’ll still be going for the win.”

Ellis will be joined at Wimborne Road by Robins colleague Wajtknecht, who booked his place after finishing after finishing as runner-up in the semi-final at Peterborough.

With Swindon due to travel to Poole in the SGB Premiership on Bank Holiday Monday, Wajtknecht hopes extra time on the track will pay dividends when he returns on club duty.

“I got seeded through last year, which I didn’t really expect it, so I was happy to go through qualifying this year,” said Wajtknecht.

“With the likes of Adam and Robert Lambert there, it is going to be tough, but through a busy period, I normally go quite well. Everyone wants to go there and win it so why not? A podium finish or top five would be brilliant.

“I can go to Poole and learn the track and hopefully when I go back with Swindon next week, I will know a bit about it.”