SWINDON rider Kyle Howarth finished just a point off the top score as 16 British riders were asked to compete in a dress rehearsal at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for Saturday's Speedway Grand Prix.

British U21 champion Howarth finished on 10 points just behind top scorers Edward Kennett, Lewis Kerr and Richie Worrall.

Twelve members of the Swindon track staff were also out in force at Cardiff.

With the track built some 45 centimetres higher than usual, with the permanent grass surface remaining in place, organisers were keen to ensure that the track bedded in given some serious problems elsewhere with one-off tracks this season.

Certainly the riders were complimentary while promoter-for-the-day Colin Pratt of Swindon speedway (this was technically a Swindon meeting) and track builder Ole Olsen were also happy.

After 20 races the track did not seem to cut up and it offered a number of racing lines.

Riders were asked not to go for narrow gaps or take the risks.

That will not be the case on Saturday when 2013 world champion Tai Woffinden, who tops this year's standings, will be the top draw.

Also in the line-up are Swindon skipper Troy Batchelor while Swindon asset Peter Kildemand will make his 2015 GP debut as a replacement for the badly injured Jarek Hampel.

It looks like Kildemand will take part in the remaining nine GPs.

He is expected to be fit for Saturday after suffering concussion in his first race of the 2016 Grand Prix qualifying semifinal in Latvia at the weekend.