Woffy leads World Championship at halfway stage

WORLD Championship leader Tai Woffinden is a happy man – despite missing out on top spot at the Swedish Grand Prix.

Scunthorpe-born Woffinden worked hard to finish runner-up to Nicki Pedersen in Malilla but equalled the Dane’s score of 17 to maintain a nine-point lead in the title race at the half-way stage.

“It was another good GP for me, I’m happy with my score, even though I didn’t quite make top step on the podium,” he said.

“For me to come away with 17 points and to still hold a nine-point lead in the championship is great, but there’s still a long way to go.

“We’re only at the halfway stage of the championship so there’s still a really long way to go and anything can happen.

“I’m just trying to stay calm and relaxed and I’m enjoying my racing right now, I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Woffinden says the fact the meeting went ahead was a great achievement after torrential rain throughout the area up until 6pm.

“Credit to the guys who worked on the track to get the meeting on at all,” he said. “It was a great achievement.

“The covers played their part and I said this last season, why more effort isn’t made by clubs to have covers is beyond me.

“To be fair, nobody spoke about the track, we all knew the rain would stop and the meeting would go ahead. It was a bit tricky in the first four heats but then it got better and better and it was really good to race on.

“A lot of the riders in the meeting had probably raced there in the wet before, so it was nothing new. It’s great to get the meeting done, I think every rider wanted that to happen.

“I’m pleased, but I’m going to make a few tweaks here and there before the next round in Denmark and see what happens. I’m satisfied with how my season is going, but we’re only halfway through.”

Woffinden went on to notch 11-points for Polish side Wroclaw in their 47-43 defeat at Grudziadz on Sunday.

“It was good, but it could have been better,” said Woffinden. “It’s a hard track for the away guys to get dialled in, they ran it slick and then watered it, but I’m pleased enough.

“It’s a shame the team couldn’t win, but we gave it our all and it just wasn’t to be.”

The next round of the World Championship is on Saturday, August 8 – the Kjaergaard Danish FIM Speedway Grand Prix which takes place for the first time ever at the Casa Arena in Horsens.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (TOP 10): 1 Tai Woffinden 80, 2 Nicki Pedersen 71, 3 Greg Hancock 58, 4 Matej Zagar 53, 5 Niels-Kristian Iversen 53, 6 Chris Holder 51, 7 Jason Doyle 48, 8 Maciej Janowski 46, 9 Michael Jepsen Jensen 41, 10 Andreas Jonsson 38.

(Press release from Tai Woffinden Racing)