WOFFY’S WEEKEND VERDICT TAI Woffinden refused to blame a lack of racing for his sluggish showing in the Rietumu Bank Latvian FIM Speedway Grand Prix at the weekend.He emerged from the rain-affected meeting with a handy nine-point lead in the World Championship after what he admits was a tough night.It was his first meeting in almost a fortnight with no Polish or Swedish League outings.
“I felt great in practice and I felt comfortable on the bike, so I don’t accept a lack of racing was a factor, not at all,” he said.“It was just one of those nights where I really had mixed fortunes. I’m pretty pleased to come away with eight-points under my belt and a nine-point lead in the championship.“Daugavpils isn’t the easiest track to pass on and there were a couple of races where I didn’t make the best of starts. I’m pleased it’s out the way, I didn’t have a great meeting last year there.”Woffinden also dismissed suggestions the abandonement of the meeting ahead of the semi-finals was a good result for him – with title rivals Nicki Pedersen and Greg Hancock in great form.“Not at all, I don’t believe that,” he said. “I was boosted by the fact that I managed to get into the semi-finals with second place in my fifth ride and I was raring to go.“It would have been another opportunity for me to score points and I’m confident I would have done, given the chance. It’s not an advantage or a disadvantage to anyone having the semi-finals and final abandoned.”Woffinden says he’s pretty satisfied with his weekend work after scoring 12 for Polish side Wroclaw on Sunday.
“Looking back at the weekend, I have to say I'm pretty satisfied with it all,” he said.“I was pleased to score eight-points on Saturday in Latvia and then I got 12 for Wroclaw on Sunday where I felt pretty good, it was just a shame we couldn't get the result against Zielona Gora. “To be honest, Saturday was tough for me in Daugavpils, it wasn't one of my better nights - but when it comes to the season overall, you never know how important those eight points might prove to be. “People also have to remember guys like Nicki and Greg have much more experience than me. “For Greg to have two punctures but then score 10 is a measure of the man. He and Nicki had their set-ups working good, I wasn't quite there.
“But I'm happy with my riding, I feel like I'm one of the best riders in the world right now and I enjoyed my meeting in Poland on Sunday. The only guy I couldn't really pass was Pepe (Protasiewicz) who was so fast and he scored 15+1. It was good to be on the track with Darcy (Ward) again after his time out and he looked fast.“My team are working well, Johnsie (Peter Johns) is doing great work with the engines and I’m pretty happy with everything.”Woffinden has a clear week before this Saturday’s Swedish FIM Speedway Grand Prix at Malilla’s G&B Arena. A full preview will be issued later this week.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (Top 10): 1 Tai Woffinden 63, 2 Nicki Pedersen 54, 3 Greg Hancock 49, 4 Niels-Kristian Iversen 43, 5 Chris Holder 41, 6 Matej Zagar 40, 7 Maciej Janowski 38, 8 Jason Doyle 37, 9 Michael Jepsen Jensen 34, 10 Andreas Jonsson 33.
