BRADY Kurtz insists he has no great expectations over his Grand Prix prospects and is instead content to just enjoy the ride.

The Poole Pirates rookie, 19, made the semi-finals courtesy of a nine-point haul at King’s Lynn on Saturday.

Kurtz’s heat-17 victory meant British star Craig Cook needed to match his result in heat 20 to force a run-off with the Australian champion but ex-Poole rider Krzysztof Kasprzak took the chequered flag.

“I was pretty happy when Cooky didn’t win,” said Kurtz.

“All my bikes were ready and I just had to wait. In my mind, I was preparing for it because I didn’t score as many points as I would have liked.

“The main thing was getting through. I am not expecting to get through the Grand Prix Challenge but you have to start somewhere and going to the next round gives me more experience.

“My aim is to go as far as I can and see where it takes me. They are tough meetings, you know when you see the line-up how good those top riders are.

“It was pretty similar to the World Under-21 Final but I’m sure the next round will be much harder.”

Kurtz was one of three Pirates to make the cut over the weekend. Hans Andersen’s 11-point haul was enough at King’s Lynn, while two early heat wins helped Krzysztof Buczkowski to secure the 10 points he needed to progress in Terenzano, Italy.

The trio return to domestic action as Pirates travel to Leicester tonight (7.30) with Kurtz content with his progress since stepping up from Premier League Somerset over the winter.

On his start to the campaign, Kurtz added: “It has been okay. I have been scoring solid points, sixes and sevens. Hopefully, I can keep building it up, adding a few more each week.

“I always knew this first year would be tough. It is my first time on a lot of these tracks but once I have done them all a couple of times, I think I can score a few more.

“I didn’t score too many at Lakeside but I think Wolves was the hardest. It was such a tough track and their riders were so dialled in there.

“At the moment, I am just enjoying it and seeing what I can do. Matt (Ford, promoter) and Middlo (Neil Middleditch, team boss) have been awesome. It has been much easier for me this year being lower down the order.

“In the Premier League, I was number one and expected to win races every week. I have enjoyed it a lot more just being able to do my own thing without having that pressure on my shoulders.”

Poole will track Steve Worrall as a guest for sidelined reserve Kyle Newman at Leicester but Adam Ellis, who dislocated his shoulder at Wolverhampton seven days ago, returns after a trouble-free outing for Eastbourne on Saturday.

The Lions are set to track their full one-to-seven.

Leicester: (from) Josh Auty, Patrick Hougaard, Aaron Summers, Sebastian Ulamek, Szymon Wozniak, Nicolai Klindt, Paul Starke. Team manager: Norrie Allan.

Pirates: (from) Hans Andersen, Krzysztof Buczkowski, Adam Ellis, Chris Holder, Bjarne Pedersen, Brady Kurtz, Steve Worrall (guest). Team manager: Neil Middleditch.