Tai Woffinden: I'll take world title
Heroic Tai Woffinden insisted he will become speedway world champion – despite rebreaking his collarbone in his first race at the Scandinavian Grand Prix in Stockholm.
With a chance to clinch the title in front of 25,000 fans at the Friends Arena on Saturday, the Parrys International Wolves star was struck by misfortune in heat two as he tangled with Polish star Tomasz Gollob.
After being sent crashing to the shale, he suffered a recurrence of the injury he picked up at the British Grand Prix back in June.
Despite being left in obvious agony, he resiliently battled through the pain barrier – displaying extraordinary grit and determination to pick up a hard-earned seven points including a vital race win ahead of title rival Jarek Hampel in heat 14.
Although he was unable to wrap up glory, Woffinden will now enter the final round of the series in 12 days' time with a 16-point lead over Polish ace Hampel – knowing six points would be enough to complete an historic triumph.
Woffinden was due to undergo surgery back in the UK yesterday to enable him to take his place in the line-up in Torun, Poland on October 5.
As he prepares for the biggest night of his career, the 23-year-old has sent out a strong message to his army of supporters – insisting he will become the first Briton to win the sport's ultimate prize since Mark Loram in 2000.
"I don't know how I managed to keep going – with a broken collarbone it was pretty uncomfortable, as you can imagine," said Woffinden.
"I'm 99.9 per cent sure it's broken and it was absolute agony but it is what it is and I just had to get on with it.
"I've still got a healthy lead, so I just need to make sure I get myself fit and ready for Torun.
"You've heard a lot of national anthems on the podium over the course of the season. But it's the one playing at the end that matters and I'm going to make sure it's the British national anthem you are hearing in two weeks' time."
Meanwhile, fellow Wolves man Freddie Lindgren also endured a frustrating evening on home soil, ending with eight points following a difficult night.
Despite a solid showing, Lindgren was unable to record a race win as he missed out on a semi-final spot on countback for the second consecutive Grand Prix.
Scandinavian Grand Prix result: Niels-Kristian Iversen 18 (1st), Matej Zagar 15 (2nd), Jaroslaw Hampel 13 (3rd), Greg Hancock 13 (4th), Darcy Ward 15, Krzysztof Kasprzak 10, Andreas Jonsson 10, Leon Madsen 9, Freddie Lindgren 8, Tai Woffinden 7, Nicki Pedersen 5, Antonio Lindback 3 Ales Dryml 3, Oliver Berntzon 3, Kim Nilsson 2. Tomasz Gollob 2, Fredrik Engman 2, Martin Vaculik 0.
World championship standings: Tai Woffinden 141, Jarek Hampel 125, Niels-Kristian Iversen 119, Emil Sayfutdinov 114, Nicki Pedersen 113, Greg Hancock 111, Matej Zagar 107, Darcy Ward 93, Tomasz Gollob 91, Chris Holder 82, Fredrik Lindgren 81, Krzysztof Kasprzak 80, Andreas Jonsson 60, Martin Vaculik 56, Antonio Lindback 45.
