BRITISH Speedway’s golden boy Tai Woffinden insists he will lap up the atmosphere in Cardiff at the biggest meeting in the world.The reigning world champion takes to the track in the magnificent Millennium Stadium at the British FIM Speedway Grand Prix on Saturday (5pm) – with a record breaking crowd willing him on.
And the Scunthorpe-born Wolverhampton racer insists he will use it as a positive rather than feel the pressure and expectation of almost 50,000 fans.
He said: “I know there is pressure, I know people will be expecting me to do well and I know there will be a lot of support for me – but I expect a lot of support for the other British boys too, Chris Harris and Craig Cook.
“I knew there would be a target on my back from the moment I won the world title last October and this will be the case more than ever in my home GP.
“But I want to use the support of the fans as a positive and I am trying to stay focussed without actually feeling the pressure from it all.”Woffinden is currently second in the world championship after six of the 12 rounds.
He is just a point behind great friend, speedway icon Greg Hancock. The American turned 44 last month and has appeared in every SGP since the inception of the series in 1995.
Said Woffinden: “I can’t think of anyone better to be battling for the lead in the world championship with. Greg is the man.“He’s such a cool guy and he’s joining my bike ride for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity on Friday which is awesome.“We are both racers and there is such a great respect there, racing for the title means everything but I’m enjoying the experience and trying to take it in my stride.
“But it’s not all down to just me and Greg – there are several other guys behind us who are waiting to pounce.“This is the last GP before the World Cup break, so I would love to win it and go into the break on a high. We shall see – it should be an awesome night.”
*TAI WOFFINDEN will be using pedal power on Friday.Tai, who has challenged himself to raise an incredible £100,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity this year, will be taking part in a sponsored cycle ride from Newport to Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium ahead of the British Grand Prix on Saturday.Further details of this exciting project will be issued in a separate press release.To sponsor Tai please visit www.justgiving.com/teamtai.
