Former speedway rider Phil Morris has come a long way from his Cwmfelinfach roots.

Although still living only a couple of villages away in Wyllie, his off-track speedway duties now frequently see him jetting off around the world.

This Saturday (July 4), Phil, who runs a food manufacturing business in New Tredegar, will become not only the first Welsh but the first ever British race director at a British FIM Speedway Grand Prix, when he takes charge of the hotly-anticipated Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix, which will take place at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Phil, 39, was named FIM race director for the FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship series and Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup for the 2015 season following the departure of former race director Tony Olsson.

FIM refers to the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (International Federation of Motorcycling); the governing body of two-wheeled motorsport.

Phil’s FIM role covers many aspects.

In the winter, this includes work on the rule books and manuals that are to be use for the coming season, as well as attending various conferences to ensure rules and regulations are communicated to the relevant people.

During the SGP season – which takes in 16 events from April to October – Phil controls the running of each race’s 23 heats, overseeing track preparations and ensuring events run to schedule.

He also liaises with the 16 riders competing in each event, co-ordinating pre-event rider briefings and ensuring all get their individual points across.

It is certainly a pressured role as once the race is underway, when riders don’t agree with the FIM referee the race director is usually the first to know about it.

On Saturday Phil will ensure the GP runs to schedule including the parade, the heats and victory celebrations as well as making sure all riders are happy and the track is as it should be.

Fast and furious family fun, the GP promises more high speed drama than ever and 40,000 thrill seeking spectators are expected to descend on the Welsh capital to soak up the action.

Phil said: “I was delighted to be offered the SGP/SWC race director role. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me and I am relishing working on behalf of the FIM in such a prestigious position.”

Paul Bellamy, managing director of BSI Speedway, said: “We are delighted the FIM has appointed Phil to the role of race director and welcome him to the SGP series.

“We are confident that Phil will bring a new perspective to the role and will undoubtedly establish himself as a key member of the FIM team and play his part in the continued success of both the FIM Speedway Grand Prix and the Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup.”

Racing competitively from the age of nine, Phil was a born sportsman and was even offered trials for the Welsh rugby Under-16s. He instead chose a career in the fast lane and was signed to his first club, the Racers, in 1991 on his 16th birthday, marking the start of a 18-year racing career including a stint for Newport Wasps.

Talking about a possible revival of speedway in Newport Phil said: “There is a chance speedway may return to Newport. It’s a slim-ish chance, but a chance nonetheless. It would take a lot of investment as it’s so difficult in this day and age to put on a motorsport event. Never say never though!

“And if it doesn’t make a comeback, it’s still amazing that we are able to host such a spectacular event as the British GP, just a few miles up the motorway at what has to be one of the best stadiums in the world.”

Prior to being appointed as race director, after hanging up his helmet, Phil remained actively involved in speedway in a number of ways; coaching the British Under-21s and Under-16s and for the past three years, holding the role of clerk of course at the British GP.

For a time, he also tried his hand at quiz shows including the Weakest Link and Eggheads and was fortunate to win enough money to enable him to buy New Tredegar-based food manufacturing company Made in Wales.

Covering the whole of South Wales, the B2B company, which turns over £1m a year, produces and packages a range of products including sandwiches, rolls, baguettes and salad pots. Phil estimates he and his 22 staff turn out 50,000 products each week.

Phil said: “If it wasn’t for the quiz shows I could never have afforded the take the plunge, but it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done. I turned my buzz for riding in to a buzz for business and I’ve never looked back.”

Phil’s new role as race director means he can be away for days at a time.

Talking about how he juggles speedway with sandwiches, he said: “I’m lucky in that I have excellent staff behind me who look after the company while I’m away. As race director I’ll be at each venue three days before the event and one day after, and with the World Cup for example I was away for 12 days. I oversee all buying but I trust my team completely in my absence.”

Speaking ahead of Cardiff and why it ranks among the best GPs in the world, Phil said: “First and foremost, the Millennium Stadium is simply a first class venue, right in the heart of a city centre and just a spectacular arena. The fanzone before the actual race ensures the whole city is involved; between 12-4pm the carnival atmosphere in Cardiff is amazing and this continues into the stadium ahead of the racing action.

“Speedway fans travel from all over the world for this GP and as a sport, we really are like a family – seeing the different nationalities all come together to support their riders just adds to the buzz.

“This year, we have three British riders who are all in with a chance of winning the event and I know we’re set for an absolute thriller this Saturday.”

The Adrian Flux British FIM Grand Prix takes place on Saturday July 4 at the Millennium Stadium. Tickets can be purchased online via www.speedwaygp.com or www.seetickets.com or by calling 0844 858 8879.

Tickets will also be available on the day from the WRU Box office on Westgate Street or Ticketline.