World champ Doyle a man of true grit
It's not very often the world champion races at Wolverhampton these days...writes Nigel Pearson
But bionic man Jason Doyle will be at Monmore on Monday when Somerset Rebels visit in Premiership action. I say ‘bionic man’ because Doyley battled through the pain barrier in a remarkable show of grit and determination to realise his dream last October.
He was denied the world title 12 months previously after a horror crash in the penultimate round in Poland.
But he made a full recovery despite later revealing his injuries were similar to those which killed Lee Richardson six years ago.
His form was magnificent and everything appeared to be going smoothly until a crash in a Swedish League match saw him suffer several broken bones in his foot.
But it didn’t stop him. He took to the track a few days later in Denmark and piled up 14 points when others, understandably, would have withdrawn.
Personally, I was delighted for the Aussie when he stood on the top step of the podium in Melbourne last October. Nobody deserved the gold medal more than Doyle. We should be pleased he is still racing in Britain and I’d urge fans to turn out and give him a great reception at Monmore on Monday. I’d expect Parrys International Wolves to win the meeting but Doyle will be the man to beat.
I’m in Poland right now for the opening round of the Grand Prix series as Doyle launches the defence of his title. Freddie Lindgren, still a firm favourite with Wolves fans, has made a brilliant return from injury and he is strongly tipped for success in Warsaw.
Then there’s another man with strong Wolverhampton connections, Tai Woffinden. I had a long chat with him on Thursday and he’s feeling pretty good going into tonight. The young Polish riders are sure to be a threat in front of the 50,000 crowd in the PGE Stadion Narodowy where the atmosphere will be something special.
I’m delighted to be on international commentary duty alongside Kelvin Tatum once again throughout the season and you can see it live on BT Sport from 6pm tonight.
n n n n
WE have been reminded what a dangerous sport this is over the last few days.
Birmingham’s Mitchell Davey sustained multiple injuries in Wednesday’s Perry Barr clash with Mildenhall.
He’s likely to be in hospital for quite some time and needed help breathing in the aftermath of the horror smash. In the same meeting Jordan Jenkins, who is part of Cradley’s National Trophy squad, sustained three cracked vertebrae.
Wishing the boys all the very best. It’s a cruel sport and my sincere hope is that both make a full recovery and get back to doing what they love as soon as possible.
Heathens use rider replacement for Jordon in tonight’s trip to Stoke.
