GREAT BRITAIN WIN IN GERMANY

Image courtesy of Steve Hone Photography

In a tricky Semi-Final in Landshut, the national team picked up 39 points with Czech Republic and hosts Germany on 30 and Ukraine back in fourth.

Captain Robert Lambert scored 14, Dan Bewley 13, Tom Brennan with nine and Leon Flint on three.

Allen revealed: “I think watching on TV it probably looked like it was always under control and easy. But it’s never that way, it's never like that really.

“I was pleased with the senior boys and it was a good experience for Leon.

“Tom obviously started really well and overall I think they all did what I wanted from them, it was job done and on to Warsaw.

“I looked at the programme and picked the riders in their riding order because I knew the gate positions and I’d chosen tactically for that reason. I knew the first race was going to be really hard for Leon off gate three in heat 1 is not good.

“It would have been great if he could have got a point out of it, but then Tom steadied the ship with a win in heat 2 and then obviously your big guns come out and you’ve gone from three points down to leading after four races. Robert and Dan are class now, they're so good.

“We’ve got two superstars and we’ve had that for a very long time.”

Allen also had words of praise for the new boys Flint and reserve Will Cairns, who didn’t get a ride.

He added: “Leon sort of took one for the team. That race number did have gate three in heat 1 and also after the track grades and watering.

“I'd selected Adam at that number and Leon at reserve as Adam’s a more experienced gater than Leon. So I think that riding number would possibly have been more suited to Adam. So I knew it would be tough for Leon.

“But I also know that he's a fighter and he doesn't give up. I was pleased with Will. He was excellent in practice, he was good within the squad and he’ll have picked up a lot of experience, it was a great opportunity to be around Robert and Dan and see just what it takes to be World Championship level.”