Track Talk: Woffy blow means title is wide open

It’s a scorching hot weekend – which makes a pleasant change from back in the UK where severe wet weather has caused several postponements all week long.

Back to tonight though and we must start with the major disappointment for Brit Tai Woffinden. He misses out tonight through injury but the priority for him is that he concentrates on getting back to 100 per cent fitness before he even thinks about getting back on a bike again.

His vertebrae and shoulder blade injuries really are quite serious and naturally we keep our fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

His absence is a big blow for the series itself though as a three-time winner and defending World Champion – but it does allow his rivals the opportunity to pull even further away from him in the current standings.

At the moment, despite it still being early days of course, it looks as though we could be heading for a first Polish World Champion since 2010; Bartosz Zmarzlik and Patryk Dudek have been very impressive in the opening couple of rounds… but don’t rule out those just behind them in the points charts ahead of tonight!

I’m told the Marketa Stadium is sold out which means we’re set for another fantastic atmosphere and it’s another great opportunity for British youngster Robert Lambert.

The experience is good for him and fair play to him because it can’t be easy after such a late call into each Grand Prix this year. Unlike the main field, he hasn’t had the winter to prepare himself for these fixtures – but he’s acquitted himself really well with two semi-finals so far and I’d like to think another eight or nine points tonight will keep things ticking along quite nicely for him.

To make a prediction I’ll go for another Zmarzlik victory – but watch out for Wolverhampton asset Freddie Lindgren who won in Prague last year and if he can rediscover that sort of form then it goes without saying he’ll be a major threat.

Catch all the action with Kelvin Tatum and myself in the commentary box on BT Sport, racing starts at 6pm UK time.

Meanwhile on Monday, Wolverhampton get back to action with a trip to Poole, also live on BT Sport. Wimborne Road is always a tough place to go and with Brady Kurtz available for the Pirates, I expect a home win (but I do also expect see Wolves pushing hard for a consolation point too).

In addition Cradley are back at Monmore for what should be another toughie against the Leicester Lion Cubs.

The Heathens boys were boosted by a win at Mildenhall last weekend – albeit in far from ideal circumstances with Mildenhall having to contend with some serious injury issues. Nevertheless, Cradley’s riders did what they had to do and they could prove to be four big league points.

Keep an eye out for the Thompson Twins as well. Dan and Joe are only 15-years-of-age but they’re part of a talented crop coming through who can, hopefully, give the sport a bright future in this country.

Leicester will fancy their chances of an away win but I’m sure the Cradley boys will be fired up in front of their own fans and it should be a cracking night.