SWINDON Robins rider Adam Ellis admits he was surprised to learn he had been included in Great Britain’s World Cup team.

Alun Rossiter decided to include the 21-year-old for the competition, despite him suffering injury and a lack of form since his arrival at the Abbey Stadium ahead of the 2017 campaign.

But with a recent upturn in results, Ellis says he feels like his season is slowly getting back on track, ahead of World Cup Event One at Kings Lynn on Saturday.

“It wasn’t something I expected, it has come as a bit of a shock but it is pretty good and I am looking forward to it,” said Ellis.

“The season is starting to go a bit better now and everything is falling into place. It is another opportunity, like last year.

“Obviously you just want to get out on the bike, it is all going pretty good there is just a lack of meetings at the minute.”

Ellis will go head-to-head with two club colleagues at the Adrian Flux Arena as Swindon’s Jason Doyle and Nick Morris have made the cut for the Australia squad, despite individual injury concerns over the duo. Morris is currently sidelined with concussion, while Doyle fractured metatarsals in his foot in a recent fall.

Domestically, Ellis has been frustrated by the lack of meetings so far, with this Thursday’s clash against Wolverhampton Wolves the first for Swindon in two weeks.

“It has been the same story all year, really. There isn’t enough meetings going on so it will be good to start a World Cup week where you get some practice on the track,” added Ellis “You get a lot more bike time and it sets you up for the meeting, unlike a normal league one.

“There isn’t much difference but I find when I’m at U21 meetings or qualifiers it is a little bit easier because you have three or four practice sessions.

“You can dial the bike in and get a really good set up, unlike a league meeting where you turn up and have to guess for your first ride.

“There is more pressure and expectation, but I think it should be good, we have a good team and everyone is looking good.

“Obviously I would like to get a ride but I wouldn’t want anyone to be riding badly so we will have to wait and see.”