Arena Essex star Mark Loram has caste aside his Hammers racejacket in favour of a Team Great Britain body colour this week as the World Cup competition as England stages this prestigious competition.

The expectations of British riders are high for the event, staged at Eastbourne and Poole, but Loram is confident GB will deliver.

"That does create extra pressure on us to perform but the boys can live with that," he said. "But we are only human and we'll be doing our best but the competition does bring together the best riders in the world."

Life at the Purfleet Raceway hasn't been too easy lately, but Loram reckons the week away from league action will help.

"We are a bit low at the moment, we've had a couple of injuries and that's not helped," he added.

"The team have got more than a week off and that should help us top regroup a bit. Dean Barker has taken a while to get going but he appears to have turned the corner now.

"Admittedly, we've had a few chinks in our armour but generally we've acquitted ourselves well. I can say that I'm certainly enjoying my riding for the club and that goes for the other riders."

Published Monday August 2, 2004

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