The Panthers man lines up in a World Championship semi-final at Motala in Sweden, desperate to continue his GP dream.

King successfully came through a quarter-final in Italy last month but admits he will have to raise his game against some established international riders if he is to negotiate this latest challenge.

The 21 year-old has never raced at the Motala track before but has picked up plenty of information on the circuit from Panthers pal and fellow Huntingdon resident Kenneth Bjerre. The Dane, who is a reserve for tonight's meeting, spent six years racing at this venue in the Swedish League.

King, who needs to secure a top eight finish to advance to the World Qualifying Final later in the season, said: "It is a big, big occasion for me.

"I didn't put myself under any pressure ahead of the last round in Italy. I am still young and probably not ready for the GPs as yet, but now I have made it through one stage I want to go all the way.

"It is obviously a much tougher field than I faced in the quarter-final but I don't go into meetings worrying about the opposition. All I am concentrating on is putting five good rides together and hoping that gets me into the top eight.

"I don't have to go out and win every race but what I can't afford is any really bad heats where I fail to score."

King could hardly have a better man in his corner than former world champion Michael Lee - the man who ruled the planet in 1980 has been a major influence on King's career and will be by his side in southern Sweden.

King added: "Michael was with me at Lonigo for the last round and it is great to be able to tap into his experience and knowledge.

"He has done a great job with my engines and knows what the big meetings are all about."

n KENNETH Bjerre needs to benefit from another rider's misfortune if he is to stand a chance of qualifying tonight.

Bjerre is a reserve for King's semi after coming up agonisingly short in his brave quarter-final bid when he rode just 10 days after breaking his left femur.

Bjerre admitted: “My only chance is if another rider crashes badly in practice or in their first ride in the actual meeting.

“I don't think that is likely to happen but if I do get into the meeting I will be fairly confident at a track I know very well.”

Bjerre's best hope of making it into the 2009 World Championship series is being selected for a wildcard. His run to th e semi-finals of the Danish GP last month certainly won't have done his chances any harm.

n A World Championship semi-final line-ups:

Semi Final One (Terenzano, Italy): 1 Seb Ulamek (Pol), 2 Matej Zagar (Slo), 3 Guglielmo Franchetti (Ita), 4 Lukas Dryml (Cze), 5 Ryan Sullivan (Aus), 6 Kevin Wolbert (Ger), 7 Lee Richardson (GB), 8 Rafal Dobrucki (Pol), 9 Jesper B. Monberg (Den), 10 David Howe (GB), 11 Charlie Gjedde (Den), 12 Adrian Miedzinski (Pol), 13 Peter Ljung (Swe), 14 Mikael Max (Swe), 15 Christian Hefenbrock (Ger), 16 Jurica Pavlic (Cro).