By John Gaisford

TODD Wiltshire and Nicki Pedersen will have the support of hundreds of Oxford fans when they line up in the FIM Fiat Vans British Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff tonight.

The organisers expect the biggest crowd yet for a British GP and advance ticket sales indicate a near-50,000 turn out.

Pedersen expects to shrug off the groin injury that prevented riding in the Silver Machine's 48-42 win over Peterborough on Wednesday.

He is lying in a handy fifth position on 28 points and is only 16-1 to lift the title. He will be in action early on, as he goes off gate one in heat two, where a victory over Jason Crump, Bo Brhel and David Howe would see him through to heat eight.

Wiltshire goes off gate two in the opening heat and comes up against Tomasz Gollob, Hans Andersen and Simon Stead. A place in heat seven awaits him if he is successful.

Despite his runners-up spot behind Ryan Sullivan last year, Oxford's Aussie is rated a no-hoper, with the bookies offering a very generous 66-1.

As expected, reigning world champion Tony Rickrdsson, chasing a world record-eqalling sixth title this year, is a hot 7-4 favourite, with Crump and Sullivan next best at 6-1.

Wiltshire, who recorded a superb victory over Sullivan at Oxford on Wednesday, said: "I think Ryan had taken it for granted that he had the race in the bag, but he didn't expect me to get my head down and come through.

"I'm enjoying myself immensely at the moment. Time is running out slowly on my career and every race is a bonus for me.

"Cardiff has been one of my favourite venues in the years I have been in the series. It seems to suit me and I will be trying to pull one back on Ryan tonight."

Oxford promoter Nigel Wagstaff tried to placate a few sceptical Oxford fans after Pedersen pulled with that injury on Wednesday.

He said: "I have received a doctor's certificate and have no reason to doubt Nicki's integrity.

"When he rides for me or any other team, what you see is what you get. He wears his heart on his sleeve and I have never seen him willingly pull out of a fight or a contest."

Last year's leading Oxford lights, Leigh Adams and Lukas Dryml, will also command support from the Oxford contingent in Cardiff, especially Dryml, who is currently tying in first pace with Rickardsson on 38 pts.

How they line-up: Gollob, Wiltshire, Andersen, Stead, N Pedersen, Crump, Brhel, Howe, Karlsson, Lyons, Nicholls, Richardson, B Pedersen, Protasiewicz, Jonsson, Loram, Sullivan, Hancok, Rickardsson, Bajerski, Dryml, Adams, Max, Holta.