as the 2016 FIM Speedway Grand Prix series launches in Slovenia
WOFFY: I'M NO LONGER CHAMP
Great Britain hero Tai Woffinden insisted “In my own mind I am no longer the world champion” as he launches his quest for title No.3 at the series-opening Slovenian FIM Speedway Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 2016 FIM Speedway World Championship launches at Krsko’s Stadion Matije Gubca, with 2013 and 2015 winner Woffinden determined to join fellow 2015 top-three stars Greg Hancock and Nicki Pedersen in becoming a triple world champion.
They’re tipped to face stiff competition for their rostrum spots this year from the likes of Niels-Kristian Iversen, Jason Doyle, Matej Zagar, Maciej Janowski, Chris Holder, Peter Kildemand, Andreas Jonsson, Chris Harris and Jaroslaw Hampel, who sits out the Krsko event due to injury.
Series debutants Bartosz Zmarzlik and Piotr Pawlicki are also determined to impress, along with the returning Antonio Lindback, who’s back on form and ready to prove his SGP class.
But Woffy is keen to see off his rivals and become the first Brit ever to win three FIM Speedway World Championships, as well as the first UK star to claim back-to-back gold medals.
Defending the title is one of the sport’s greatest feats – only Tony Rickardsson and Nicki Pedersen have won successive titles since the SGP series was launched in 1995.
So Woffinden is determined to forget his sensational achievements from last year, and focus on winning another title.He said: “In my own mind I am no longer the world champion heading to Slovenia this weekend. We all start from zero and 15 guys are ready to challenge for the world title.
“It’s a fresh start for everyone and I’m not the world champion now. As soon as January came around, I had a fresh mentality. I was world champion in 2015, but it’s now 2016.
“Of course a third world title is my aim, of course everyone will want to beat me because to everyone else I am the champion – but not in my eyes, anymore.”
Woffinden is looking to continue his Krsko love affair in the opening SGP season. He finished runner-up to Greg Hancock at the Stadion Matije Gubca last September and was second to Jaroslaw Hampel there in 2013 on his way to his maiden title triumph. Now he is looking for a flying start to the new campaign on Saturday.
“It’s a track I enjoy riding and I’m sure I’ll feel the same when we get there at the weekend,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it and it would be nice to make a good start to the SGP series.”Hancock goes into the season determined to regain the World Championship crown he lost to Woffinden last year. And the 2015 SGP series runner-up, who turns 46 in June, is hungry for a fourth title.
He said: “I have high expectations and my goals are always high. For me, there’s nothing like standing on top of the podium for the World Championship. That is the biggest carrot for me. I’m going for it and I want to win.
“Everything is moving along well. I feel good and the racing season has kicked off now. Everyone has been waiting for Saturday and they’re ready for some serious World Championship action.
“I feel great. Everything is in good shape. My bikes feel good and I feel like I’m running on par. You just have to be a little above par to be the best – that’s where I want to be.”
Slovenian favourite Matej Zagar is determined to start strong, and he admits getting the pressure of being the home rider out of the way in the first round is a bonus for him.
He said: “I’m pretty glad this Slovenian round is the first one. I can tick it off; it’s away, the home pressure and everything. But I hope I’ll be in good shape and everything works well. I hope I’m going to have a successful seven heats in Krsko.”
Polish star Hampel sits out this weekend’s Slovenian SGP as he continues his recovery from a spiral fracture of the right leg, suffered last June. His place is taken by series first reserve, Fredrik Lindgren of Sweden.
SLOVENIAN FIM SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX LINE-UP (in ranking order with rider numbers): 108 Tai Woffinden (Great Britain), 45 Greg Hancock (USA), 3 Nicki Pedersen (Denmark), 88 Niels-Kristian Iversen (Denmark), 69 Jason Doyle (Australia), 71 Maciej Janowski (Poland), 23 Chris Holder (Australia), 25 Peter Kildemand (Denmark), 100 Andreas Jonsson (Sweden), 37 Chris Harris (Great Britain), 66 Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden – substitute for 33 Jaroslaw Hampel), 95 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland), 777 Piotr Pawlicki (Poland), 85 Antonio Lindback (Sweden), 16 Denis Stojs (Slovenia – wild card), 17 Nick Skorja (Slovenia – track reserve), 18 Matic Ivacic (Slovenia – track reserve).
