Monday 9th July 2012, 09:40

Australian hotshot Davey Watt is desperate to end his country’s 10-year wait for FIM Monster Energy Speedway World Cup glory, starting at King’s Lynn tonight.

The boys from Down Under tackle Team Great Britain, Germany and the Czech Republic with the winners advancing into the Final at Malilla on Saturday.

Three-time world champion Jason Crump is the only man in the current Australian team with a World Cup gold medal to his name. He won the Ove Fundin Trophy at Wroclaw in 2001 and Peterborough in 2002. The SGP star also lifted the old World Team Cup at Pardubice in 1999.

Current generation Chris Holder, Darcy Ward, Troy Batchelor and Watt are determined to write their names in the World Cup history books. And, after finishing second to Poland in Gorzow a year ago, Watt is determined to go one better.

The Lakeside rider said: “It’s too long since we last won it. We’ve just missed out a couple of times and been pipped to the post.

“It’s so frustrating and we’re looking to make sure we put that long wait to rest and finally get a gold medal. I’ve got silvers and bronzes and I’m not keen on them anymore. I want the gold.”

The Aussies go into tonight’s meeting with real doubts over the fitness of Ward, who is still recovering from surgery on a broken hand.

Batchelor is at the Norfolk Arena and ready to step in, and Watt is confident his side has the scoring power to cope without the double World Under-21 champion.

He said: “We’re confident in our team, no matter who’s in it. We’ve got riders through the line we know we can count on to score points. That’s what we need from everyone.

“Batch is flying. I rode against him at Swindon on Thursday and he was on it out there. He got a maximum. It’s good to see he has found his feet again and just in time.”

With SWC teams being reduced from five men to four for this year’s tournament, Watt believes Team GB will be stronger this season.

“We know Britain can be strong and the four-man system probably suits them better,” he said. “It’s cool that they’re feeling strong and confident before the World Cup, but they’ll need that crowd supporting them because we’re going there all guns blazing.”

With Poland and Denmark already in the FIM Monster Energy SWC Race Off at Malilla on Thursday, Australia and the Brits will be desperate to win at King’s Lynn and seal their spot in the final.

With only the top side in the Race Off joining them, Watt admits he would rather sit that one out.

He said: “That one’s going to be pretty messy, so we’re not keen on going there. We want to go straight through to the final and guarantee our spot tomorrow night.

“It’s so mental this year with only one team going through the Race Off. It’s going to be an awesome meeting to watch on telly and we want to go there and watch it. We just don’t want to be a part of it.”

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