A SHOT at gaining revenge on Russia and winning a world championship trophy for the first time since 1989 awaits Team GB, after they cruised through their Speedway of Nations qualifying round in Manchester on Saturday.

Team manager Alun Rossiter – also boss of the Swindon Robins – felt great emotion as world champion Tai Woffinden and Craig Cook recorded the host nation’s fourth 5-1 of the evening over Latvia in heat 20.

That result – coupled with heat wins over France, USA and Finland from the earlier in the meeting – means Rossiter’s golden trio will now face Russia, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Australia and Denmark in the Speedway of Nations final over two days in Togliatti, Russia, in July.

GB’s trip to Russia will be Rossiter’s first in over three decades. But it won’t be under 21 title on the line this time around – only the small matter of world championship glory to race for.

He said: “It’s job done – and to make it even better we won the event.

“It was nice to use all three riders, and I’ve got to admit it was one of the nicest atmospheres in the pits in a long time.

“Everyone helped each other, and I suppose people might remember it as the night I dropped the world champion (in heat 10) and we still won.

“It was a big call, sometimes you have to make them. I went to Tai (Woffinden) and he said ‘you’re the boss, do what you’ve got to do’.

“Fair play to him. He said he’ll win the next two races when he’s called upon.”

Thousands of passionate Brits packed Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium – and the turnaround in Great Britain’s fortunes since VRX Motorsport took charge of the national squad last April prompted a few emotions from the GB boss.

“The crowd was amazing, it was great to see all of those British flags,” said Rossiter.

“It was quite emotional at the end with everyone cheering, I felt very proud.

“I was chuffed for all the riders – they all work their socks off and we were a proper team.”

Meanwhile Great Britain’s strength in depth is something that gives Rossiter huge hope.

Chris Harris and Dan Bewley were knocking on the door for a national spot – while promising youngsters including Drew Kemp and Lean Flint grant Rossiter plenty of reason to be optimistic.

He added: “Chris (Harris) has just come back from a scaphoid injury, and with the experience Craig (Cook) has around Belle Vue – that tipped the scale.

“Even though he’s not riding in the Premiership, he’s still banging in big points in the Championship – and his confidence is high.”