JAMES Shanes booked his place in the British under-21 final at Wimborne Road after winning the semi-final for the second year in a row.

Pirates reserve Shanes, who had never ridden competitively at Peterborough before tonight, was level on 12 points apiece with Connor Mountain and Zach Wajtknecht after five rides and triumphed on countback.

The other qualifiers were Danny Phillips, Jack Smith, Ellis Perks, Nathan Greaves, Danyon Hume, Nathan Stoneman and Luke Harris.

"It's been an unbelievable start to the season for me and this win keeps that going," said Shanes.

"It was a tough line-up so to come out on top for a second straight year is really pleasing.

"I was disappointed with how I performed in the final last year but this year it's at my new home track and I can't wait."

Shanes opened with a solid second place behind Belle Vue's Smith, before rounding Mountain and Jamie Halder on his way to winning heat seven.

There was frustration for the Pirates youngster when he was forced to settle for third behind Kent's Stoneman, who used wide lines to block his rival.

But Shanes was soon back on the victory trail, hitting the front after going wheel to wheel with Hume early on.

And the 20-year-old reeled off his third win after heat nine was awarded following Greaves's heavy fall.

The 10 qualifiers are due to lock horns with six seeded riders on Wednesday, April 26, those being defending champion Josh Bates, Adam Ellis, Robert Lambert, Liam Carr, Max Clegg and Dan Bewley.

However, the participation of ex-Poole rider Ellis appears in doubt after he sustained a broken scaphoid while riding for Swindon last week.

Meanwhile, Pirates number one Krzysztof Kasprzak today managed five paid six for Polish club Gorzow in their challenge meeting against hosts Leszno.