A huge stride towards success for Great Britain on the track could take place this weekend.
The 2015 Speedway Grand Prix season reaches the halfway mark with Tai Woffinden heading into the sixth round on the Målilla track in Sweden leading the standings by nine points.
And the 24-year-old Scunthorpe-born rider is taking a very laid back approach to this season’s campaign.
Two years ago Woffinden became world champion, being the eighth British rider to take the crown and the first one to hold the British Championship and World Championship in the same year since former Bradford Dukes rider Gary Havelock in 1992 – and the first to win it since Mark Loram in 2000.
Last season the former Wolverhampton Wolves racer surrendered the title to 45-year-old American legend Greg Hancock – who claimed his third title after having won in 1997 and 2011.
You would have thought it might have made Woffindin want to hit the track more to get back on top.
However, he has treated the situation with reverse psychology and has been taking a more relaxed approach.
Not riding in the British Leagues this term he has also been easing off his duties abroad and recently took two weeks out from his commitments riding in the Polish and Swedish League.
Asked if he was taking a risk he replied: “I’m happy with my riding. I feel like I’m one of the best riders in the world right now.”
It may come across as over-confidence, but the ball is well and truly in Woffinden’s court and he heads to the home of the Dackarna Speedway Club with the pressure definitely on his championship pursuers Denmark’s Nicki Pedersen and reigning champion Hancock – while Dane Niels-Kristian Iversen, Australia’s Chris Holder and Belle Vue Aces’ Slovenian racer Matej Žagar will also be aiming to make up ground.
Hopefully Woffinden’s wonderfully unfazed approach can see him through to another landmark as victory in this year’s series will see him become the first British rider to land two world titles since Peter Craven, the Scot who won both his two championships on the old Wembley Stadium track in 1955 and 1962.
It is a well-known fact the British have invented every sport that is worth playing – but how have we come up with ones that are susceptible to the weather.
While cricket is the most obvious example of the English coming up with a game that can’t be played in the rain, after The Open at St Andrews you have to wonder how the Scots came up with a sport that isn’t conducive to downpours and gales.
Much was made of how the game has been played since the 15th century by the BBC commentators and you have to feel that when golf was starting out the fairways might not have been so manicured and the dreadful weather also may have been stoically ignored just to get a round in.
I feel the modern day game is missing out by not playing in foul conditions and I am sure that brands like Callaway, Nike, Titleist, PING and Cobra would quite happily put their labels on designer wellies and waders.
