REIGNING champion Greg Hancock tipped Maciej Janowski for world title glory and insisted: “It’s only a matter of time.”

Series rookie Janowski grabbed his first Grand Prix triumph in Latvia seven days ago and charged into the top eight as a result.

It was a second rostrum finish of the season for the Pirates skipper, who had previously bagged an 18-point haul at the Czech GP at the end of May.

And triple world champion Hancock believes his protégé and rival could grab speedway’s global crown sooner rather than later.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s Swedish GP in Malilla (6pm BST), Hancock told the Daily Echo: “He has got all the ingredients to be world champion and he just needs more time and experience. But without a doubt, he is world champion material.

“It’s only a matter of time and it could come sooner rather than later because he has made big strides.

“Maciej definitely has the ingredients to go all the way and it’s only going to get better for him.

“He made a point in Latvia and it wasn’t a fluke because he has been in the final a couple of times this year and that says a lot about him.

“Latvia wasn’t a surprise to me at all. The kid has been doing so well for a long time and it feels like he’s matured so much over the past year.

“You can see it’s already starting to click for him. He’s really enjoying his time in Poole, to say the least, as he chooses to ride there rather than in Sweden. That enjoyment is really showing in his overall performances.

“He is a key competitor so I have to keep my eye on him as much as all the others.”

Janowski, 23, may be a youngster on the Grand Prix scene but Hancock stressed that the Polish champion had already gained plenty of know-how.

Hancock, who is currently third in the standings, added: “Experience always helps and he’s pretty experienced already – more than people realise.

“He has raced all over the continent and has been with us (the Hancock camp) for a lot of world championships as a bystander and also to help out.”

As well as Poole number one Chris Holder, ex-Pirate Antonio Lindback will take his place in the field having been handed a wild card.

The Rio Rocket, who still holds the track record at Wimborne Road, finished seventh in the 2012 world championship having claimed wins at Terenzano and Torun.

Lindback has rediscovered some of his best form this year and won Speedway World Cup gold with Sweden last month.