POOLE Pirates trio Hans Andersen, Brady Kurtz and Krzysztof Buczkowski are a step closer to turning their Grand Prix 2017 dreams into reality after succesfully negotiating last night's qualifiers.

Australian champion Kurtz won heat 17 which was enough to finish one point ahead of Craig Cook to take the final spot with nine points at King's Lynn.

Cook was leading heat 20 and was all set to tie with Kurtz but was passed by Krzysztof Kasprzak at the end of lap two. Cook will be restricted to a reserve berth at the next stage.

Andersen qualified with relative ease, bagging 11 points thanks largely to two victories from his five heats. 

Freddie Lindgren won the event with Kasprzak, Kenneth Bjerre, Andersen, Sam Masters, Joonas Kylmakorpi and Kurtz qualifying in that order.

Two wins from his opening pair of races put Buczkowski on his way to a score of 10. He was one of three riders to finish one point above the qualification threshold in Terenzano, Italy. 

Bjarne Pedersen rides in his quarter-final in Abensberg, Germany a week tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, Poole will track Steve Worrall as a guest for sidelined reserve Kyle Newman in tomorrow's Elite League clash at Leicester (7.30).

Adam Ellis is set to return from a dislocated shoulder.