SHEFFIELD born and bred Simon Stead takes charge of Great Britain at World Championship level for the first time this weekend.

Stead, part of a well known family in the city with a long established car dealership, is now joint boss of the GB speedway team riding in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations in Poland on Friday and Saturday.

It’s a massive honour for Stead as well as the Owlerton club and a moment he’s been waiting for after the original date in Manchester was cancelled in May.

Said Stead: “I really can’t wait to be honest, it’s something I feel very proud of, I rode for my country and now I’m joint manager with my great friend Ollie Allen.

“I feel very proud to be British and very proud to be a Sheffield lad. It means a lot to me.”

GB have been forced into a change of team plans with the shattering blow of triple World Champion Tai Woffinden suffering a broken bone in his hand.

Stead and Allen have opted to go with youth as former Sheffield youngster Drew Kemp will partner European Champion Robert Lambert. Belle Vue’s Dan Bewley will be the under-21 rider in reserve.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to be working with three young lads,” said Stead. “Robert only came out of the under-21 category this year and he’s gone on to win the European title which is magnificent.

“We know what a daunting prospect it will be but the boys will go out there and give it their all we have no worries about that whatsoever. I want them to benefit from the experience, we have a lot of good youngsters in GB right now and we need to work closely with them and encourage them.”

GB face host nation Poland, holders Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Australia and Czech Republic and both meetings start at 6pm and will be shown live on BT Sport.