HANS Andersen kept his 2018 Grand Prix bid alive after progressing from his qualifying quarter-final at German track Abensberg.

The experienced Pirates skipper scored 11 points in five qualifying rides before beating Austrian Daniel Gappmaier in a run-off for third.

Andersen will now race in Olching or Terenzano next week with a place in the Grand Prix Challenge on the line.

Peter Kildemand won the Abensberg meeting despite a broken foot, with Mateusz Szczepaniak a surprise second. The other qualifiers were Przemek Pawlicki, Oliver Berntzon and Matej Kus.

The in-form Andersen scored nine paid 11 in Lodz's 52-32 home win over Bydgoszcz in the Polish second tier on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Brady Kurtz stormed to a 15-point maximum as he helped Australia march into the Under-21 Speedway World Cup final.

Pirates’ rising star was unbeaten as the boys from Down Under bested Great Britain and two teams from host nation Germany in Pocking on Saturday.

Kurtz’s Poole team-mate Jack Holder also impressed with 10 points having fallen on his second ride.

Australia – aided by an additional 15-point maximum from Max Fricke – led the way on 47 points, with Team GB second on 40 and Germany I third on 33.

The final is due to take place at Polish track Rybnik on Saturday, September 2.