Up to 150 trucks piled high with shale have started to arrive at the Millennium Stadium in preparation for the 11th consecutive FIM Doodson British Speedway Grand Prix at Cardiff’s multi-event venue on Saturday, 25 June.

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The iconic arena, which just last week played host to two spectacular sell-out Take That concerts in front of 129,000 fans, will be transformed into a world class racing track in five days as the countdown begins for the Speedway world championships.

Three thousand tons of shale is required to build the 278metre track which will withstand speeds of over 70mph from 15 of the world’s best riders and the preparations are already underway for a feast of motor sport action.

The biggest event on the Speedway calendar was first held at the multi-event arena in front of over 30,000 fans in June 2001 and has grown year on year with over 40,000 fans expected to race through the gates on the weekend.

The stadium, which is wholly owned and operated by the Welsh Rugby Union, is renowned for attracting some of the biggest and best events to Cardiff thanks to its city-centre location, fully retractable roof and removable pitch.

Millennium Stadium General Manager Gerry Toms said: “The Speedway Grand Prix is a fantastic occasion and I’m thrilled to welcome the organisers back to Cardiff for the 11thconsecutive world championship.

“While the Millennium Stadium boasts a fantastic reputation as a multi-event venue, it never fails to impress me how efficiently we can transform the stadium ‘bowl’ in conjunction with the biggest and best event organisers from all over the world.

“In just three weeks of this month, the stadium will have played host to some of the best rugby action, live music and motor sports in the world. And of course, with the Wales’ summer internationals games against England and Argentina in August, we will be bringing our pitch back to the home of Welsh sport next week.”

Paul Bellamy, Managing Director of event promoters BSI Speedway commented: “It’s a great achievement by Ole Olsen and his team that we are able to build temporary tracks in stadiums throughout Europe that are not used to running speedway on a regular basis.

“These tracks are now widely recognised by the riders as being some of the best tracks they perform on and I am looking forward to another bumper crowd on Saturday watching a true World Championship motorsport event.

“The city will certainly know speedway has arrived on Saturday afternoon, with the Fanzone in St Mary’s Street as well as performances throughout the afternoon from the ‘Globe of Death’ motorcycle stunt team outside Gate 3 at the Millennium Stadium.  Stacey Solomon then kicks-off the in-stadium entertainment around 16:20 and, with the event starting at 17:00, it is an action packed afternoon and great entertainment for the whole family.”

Tickets are still available from £29 for adults and £18 for children under 16 via the ticket hotline 0844 277 7888 and at the Millennium Stadium website: www.millenniumstadium.com A family pass (2 adults and 2 children) can be purchased for £90.

All ticket collections will be from the Millennium Stadium’s Cardiff Arms Cafe Bar at 8 Westgate Street, where fans can also enjoy the new Speedway Menu, from 10am until 5pm on Friday and Saturday.