JASON Doyle’s bid to make it to the plateau of the speedway world hits Stockholm this evening but the Swindon Robins captain’s Grand Prix title rivals insist they have no plans to ease off the throttle.

The battle to become speedway world champion reaches the ninth GP of the 2016 series at the Friends Arena today, starting at 6pm UK time, with Doyle In sensational form after topping the podium at the last two events in Teterow, Germany, and Gorzow, Poland.

Five points ahead of the Aussie ace in the standings is current leader Greg Hancock.

The American veteran will celebrate his 200th GP appearance in Sweden, meaning he has ridden in all-but one of the Speedway World Championship rounds since the Grand Prix format replaced one-off world finals in 1995.

In each of his three title-winning years, Hancock has had the luxury of having of top spot wrapped up with a round to go but the 46-year-old expects things to go right until the 12th event of this series – in Doyle’s native Australia at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium on October 22 – this time around.

“In previous years when I’ve won it, I’ve always had the other guys right there and managed to hold them off,” said Hancock.

“Now I have to concede the competition is much more stiff and consistent than it used to be. A lot of guys were up and down, but now they’re all in form.

“The guy with the best of the bad days is the one who will have the best shot at it. So we’re trying to keep away from bad days altogether.

“It’s tough at the top. We’re all chasing the dream and I can’t control what other people are doing.

“I can only control what I’m doing. I just have to go for it, keep looking up and chase what I want most.”

Great Britain star Tai Woffinden – the reigning world champion, who won last year’s Stockholm GP – is eight points behind Doyle in third and says that he’ll be fighting tooth and nail until his final lap of the year.

He said: “I’m not giving up on my goal. There are still lots of points to race for with three rounds remaining and I’ve done well in Stockholm before.

“I want to take it to the last round and I won’t give up until the end. It’s not my style.”