ALUN Rossiter’s Great Britain side will have to settle for a place in Thursday’s Race-off to claim a place in the Speedway World Cup final after being edged out by Australia at King’s Lynn this evening.

Swindon Robins riders Troy Batchelor and Nick Morris combined with Chris Holder and Jason Doyle to defeat their club boss by four points.

Rossiter will now need to prepare his side for Thursday's Race-off in Vojens, Denmark, against Poland, Russia and USA, who finished third on the night, while Australia qualify for the final on Saturday alongside hosts Denmark and Saturday's winners Sweden.

Greg Hancock of USA got his country off to the perfect start in heat one as he was pressed all the way by Australian’s Jason Doyle in second with Robert Lambert picking up one point for Great Britain.

The Robins’ Batchelor went in heat two but could only come in behind Tai Woffinden as he picked up the first three points of the night for Rossiter’s GB team.

Poole Pirates’ Holder took heat three ahead of GB’s Danny King to give Australia an early lead but that was taken by Rossiter’s side after heat four as Chris Harris lead home Swindon Robins’ Nick Morris.

A false start for Lambert in heat five cost the home nation in heat five as Holder’s second win restored Australia’s lead.

Morris continued his fine club form as he took second place in heat six to beat Woffinden and nearly stole the lead from Hancock in the dash to the line.

USA’s Ryan Fisher suffered a false start in heat seven before Doyle took the win from King to extend their lead to five points.

Batchelor had to settle for second place in heat eight as Harris claimed his second win of the night to reduce Asutralia’s lead.

Heat nine was arguably the race of the night as Hancock, who was on a double point ride for USA, got a good start before 17-year-old Lambert came back to take him before Swindon’s Morris claimed the win out of the final corner.

Woffinden showed his talent in heat 10 to come through from the back to claim the win and leave GB just three points behind Australia at the halfway point, with USA a further seven points back and Latvia struggling with only five points.

King further chipped away at the Aussie’s lead as he claimed second spot in heat 11 ahead of Batchelor in third place, before a close battle in heat 12 between Doyle and Harris but the Australian hung on to put a bit more breathing space between the two sides.

Woffinden got away well in heat 13 to take the race from Doyle to put the pressure back on Australia but Swindon’s Batchelor restored the three point lead with a win in heat 14.

Morris provided another great race in heat 15 but despite pushing King all the way the GB rider was able to hold on before Harris took heat 16 to reduce the deficit to just one point with four races remaining.

Swindon’s Morris gave Australia a big advantage in the first of the final four races as he started well in gate two to take the win with King left back in third.

Batchelor then drove home the Aussie’s advantage with another win in heat 18 to extend the lead to four points.

Doyle confirmed Australia’s place in the final on Saturday with a win in heat 19 ahead of Harris, leaving GB to fight it out in the Race-off on Thursday.

The night was finished off with a win for Woffinden as he held off Holder but it was not enough for Rossiter’s side.

AUSTRALIA 47

GREAT BRITAIN 43

USA 22

LATVIA 9

FULL REACTION FROM GB BOSS ALUN ROSSITER IN TOMORROW'S SWINDON ADVERTISER