CAN anyone prevent Tony Rickardsson taking his sixth world speedway crown?The 32-year-old Ipswich Evening Star Witches asset got off to a flying start when he won the European Grand Prix in Chorzow a fortnight ago.

By Elvin King

CAN anyone prevent Tony Rickardsson taking his sixth world speedway crown?

The 32-year-old Ipswich Evening Star Witches asset got off to a flying start when he won the European Grand Prix in Chorzow a fortnight ago.

And he is a strong favourite to win the Swedish GP on his home Marsarna track in Avesta tonight.

The fast-gating Swede looked streets ahead of many competitors in Poland, not looking troubled in most of his races. Another win tonight and Rickardsson will have gone a long way to cementing his third consecutive title in this nine-series event.

Ipswich have Scott Nicholls looking to finish high enough so that he starts the British Grand Prix in Cardiff on June 14 in the main event.

"That is the least of my ambitions," he said. "But whatever happens I will not be fighting myself over it. I don't want to wind myself up and spoil my domestic scores."

Nicholls scored six points in Chorzow after drawing a dreadful gate three on two successive occasions. There should be no such unfair starting problems at a track where Nicholls rode last season.

Andreas Jonsson hopes to return after a collarbone injury, while Ryan Sullivan has to shake off the effects of a nasty spill at Peterborough on Monday.

Former world champion Mark Loram misses out again with a broken arm, so Ronnie Pedersen takes his place.

Tonight's line-up -

Heat 1: G Hancock, B Brhel, T Bajerski, M Zetterstrom.

Heat 2: K Cegielski, R Pedersen, H Andersen, P Karlsson.

Heat 3: M Max, S Nicholls, T Wiltshire, A Jonsson.

Heat 4: L Richardson, R Sullivan, B Pedersen, J Lyons.

Seeded to heat 9: T Rickardsson, T Gollob, R Holta, L Adams.

Seeded to heat 10: N Pedersen, L Dryml, P Protasiewicz, J Crump.