Legendary British speedway star Freddie Williams is to present the winners trophy at this summers eagerly anticipated FIM Fogo British Speedway Grand Prix.
The flying Welshman twice took the world speedway crown in the 1950s and now - 62 years on from his first title - hes set to take centre stage again.
The FIM Fogo British Speedway Grand Prix takes place on Saturday, August 25 at Cardiffs Millennium Stadium, just 30 miles from where the GB and Wembley Lions ace grew up in the steel town Port Talbot.
To mark his new status as 2012 trophy presenter, he travelled back to Wales to meet one of the countrys modern sporting greats, rugby star Adam Jones.
Freddie, aged 86, said: Itll be a great thrill to present the trophy in Cardiff on August 25. I regularly attend the FIM British Speedway Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadiumits a great event in a great venue.
I told Adam that I thought rugby players were mad with the physicality of their sport these days. He thought speedway riders were mad and said that at least the rugby boys only have to fall on grass!
I follow the Wales team from my home in Berkshire and am amazed at their recent three Grand Slam successes and their high levels of skill and fitness. They went so close to beating their Southern Hemisphere hoodoo in Australia this summer that Im confident theyll achieve still more in the coming season.
Adam Jones, aged 31, a prop forward with the British Lions, Wales and the Ospreys, said: Ive heard great things about speedwaythe 40,000-plus fans at the Millennium Stadium on August 25 cant be wrong!
Cardiff Is a fabulous venue for a world-class event like this and its right that a world great like Freddie is given the honour of handing over the trophy.
Im just glad its not me on a speedway bike; I dont think theyre built for prop forwards!
This seasons FIM Speedway Grand Prix series began with the first ever SGP in New Zealand.
At the halfway point in the dramatic 12-round series, defending SGP champion Greg Hancock (USA) is leading the field. He said: Everyone knows what Freddie achieved in his career and we all want to have the honour of him presenting us with the GB trophy this year.
Right now Im delighted to have a nine-point lead in the series, but I can feel the talent breathing down my neck. Jason Crump, despite his new injury, Chris Holder and Nicki Pedersen make for a dogged and hungry chasing pack.
The six-month SGP series features the likes of former champion Tomasz Gollob (Poland). British hopes rest with Truro-born Coventry star Chris Harris.
Other SGP aces starring for British clubs right now include Danes Kenneth Bjerre (Peterborough), Bjarne Pedersen (Birmingham) and Hans Andersen (Swindon), Swede Fredrik Lindgren (Wolverhampton) and Australia's Chris Holder.
The next SGP showdown comes on Saturday in Gorican, Croatia.
BSI Speedway managing director Paul Bellamy said: "Were thrilled to have one of Britain's all-time greats presenting the trophy in front of a huge crowd in Cardiff on August 25.
Britains in the middle of an exceptional summer of sport and the FIM British Speedway GP will top it off!
Tickets for the British SGP in Cardiff on Saturday, August 25 start at 29 adults; 19 U16s and OAPs and family tickets are 93. Visit speedwaygp.com or ticketmaster.co.uk.
