Track Talk: Two-horse race for Freddie and Tai? Not quite...

Many people have been suggesting the race for the title is between two former Wolverhampton men – Tai Woffinden and Freddie Lindgren.

Ask both gents about that and they’ll brush you aside. They know there’s six rounds remaining (including tonight) and anything can happen.

Yes, it’s all fallen nicely for Woffinden in the last two rounds where he overhauled Lindgren’s narrow lead and now sits 11 clear going into the Principality Stadium.

But knowing both riders personally, they will be trotting out the old lines of ‘one meeting at a time’ – you know, a bit like football managers refusing to ‘count their chickens’ but they are ‘over the moon’ with things so far!

Personally I think there is another rider in the mix and that’s Russian Rocket Emil Sayfutdinov. He’s started to pick up some consistency but I do fell tomorrow is important for him as he needs to start reaching more finals.

Emil has a great riding style and I personally feel he will win a world title eventually. One good round for him and an off-night (like a tapes offence) for the top two and he could even win it this season!

Tai is riding brilliantly right now. He’s intelligent on the bike, how often do you see him looking across if he’s missed the start, he weighs up the situation going into the turn and then makes his move.

He wasn’t able to land a blow in the final in Hallstavik a couple of weeks ago, Magic Janowski was brilliant that night, but I’m expecting him to have a good one in Cardiff.

With my British hat on, of course I’d love to see him win in Cardiff. Imagine the noise. Tai may be a Marmite character, but his form this season in the SGP and, of course, for Great Britain in the Speedway of Nations underlines just how fantastic he has been.

I’m certain he is winning over some of his critics.

I’m also excited by the prospect of Robert Lambert riding in the meeting. The King’s Lynn man has had a wonderful season and I’m sure he’ll do himself justice.

Wolverhampton return to action with two tough meetings this week against old rivals Belle Vue.

In a repeat of the 2016 Grand Final, Parrys International Wolves will be looking to make home advantage count on Monday – although club owner Chris Van Straaten made a valid point in the week about track prep and how hard it is with a lack of rain.

They had a massive downpour in Manchester last week so there will be no such problems for the Belle Vue staff when the sides do battle there on Wednesday.

The clock is ticking for Wolverhampton riders – they need two big performances from these meetings in my view.