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Fearless Harris ready to make impact

By JOE RIGBY

Last updated at 19:03 13 March 2007

Chris Harris on Thursday goes into the opening fixture of the new speedway season knowing that nothing on the track can match the terror he felt on the weekend.

Harris, 24, who with Scott Nicholls will represent Britain in this year's grand prix series, was held up at gunpoint on Sunday night in a Coventry pub when masked raiders stole the takings after ordering the customers to lie on the floor.

"When I was down there with a sawn-off shot gun being waved around my head I thought it could be my last pint of lemonade. I've never been so scared."

He added: "I'm used to danger every time I go on to the track but after that I don't think I'll ever worry about going into the first bend and crashing again."

Cornishman Harris races for KO Cup-holders Coventry in their away Sky Sports Elite League Shield first leg against league champions Peterborough on Thursday night with the return the following night in speedway's equivalent of soccer's Community Shield.

Swindon are 3-1 favourites to take Peterborough's league title this season with Reading second favourites at 7-2. Essex's Lakeside Hammers are the likeliest of the outsiders at 16-1.

MAJOR DATES:

Mar 17: GB v Denmark U21 Test (Oxford)

Mar 19: Elite league starts, Reading v Peterborough

June 4: British final (Wolverhampton)

June 30: British Grand Prix (Cardiff)

July 16: GB in World Cup qualifier (Coventry)

July 21: World Cup final (Leszno, Pol)

Aug 4: Elite League Riders Championship (Sheffield)

Sept 24 and Oct 1: Elite League two-leg play-off