Tai Woffinden out to repeat Speedway GP upset a decade on from first world title
It’s hard to believe a decade has passed since a young Tai Woffinden was being thrust back into the Grand Prix spotlight.
Following a disastrous introduction to the biggest stage, shortly after the tragic death of his father, Rob, after a battle with cancer, Woffinden was forced to rebuild physically and mentally before returning to the highest level three years later.
“I was getting p***ed, partying and being an absolute menace in 2010,” he recalls. “It was the year my dad died so I was pretty off the rails - I wasn’t ready physically, mentally, mechanically. Compared to where we are now, it’s like night and day.”
When a successful 2012 saw Woffinden handed a wildcard by Speedway Grand Prix organisers, cynics claimed he was at the top table simply as a token Brit.
He was 500/1 to be crowned world champion. Exactly 10 years on, he’s back for another crack at his fourth world title.
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“Wow, has it been that long?” he says. “That’s crazy,” noting he is now one of the elder statesman of the flagship series.
What has changed since he shocked the world 10 years ago and claimed his first title?
“Everything’s changed,” he says. “I’ve got a family, got kids, moved countries, had a few different engine tuners since then, lots of other stuff.
“Everything changes each year, but we’re always chasing the same goal, right? This year is no different. I wouldn’t be sat here if I didn’t think I could be world champion.”
Although changes are inevitable, this season Woffinden has opted for more than most in a process he says dates back to September and has all been geared up for a fresh run at the world title.
Woffinden has made a number of changes and says the last six months have all been geared towards this season (FIMSpeedway.com)Members of his team have been replaced, including chief mechanic Jacek Trojanowski, an ever-present in his corner during his three world titles.
He’s also moving back to the UK with wife, Faye and their two kids after a stint living in Poland,. He made the rare decision to race Down Under during a winter break in Australia to keep himself sharp for the new season, in which he will add the Swedish League back to his regular schedule.
“From September last year every day, every minute, every hour has been focused on this year and I’m ready to get into it,” he declares.
“From a personal point of view there isn’t that much that I have to work on. I’m super fit, super healthy, it was more a build-up of a lot of things. All these things were little boxes I felt I needed to tick, little percents here and there which we get to this year will build up to a big change.”
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Woffinden changed engine tuners last season (Monster Energy)Another huge change will be the equipment underneath Woffinden after he switched engine tuners to Ashley Holloway mid-way through last season.
He explains: “Last year was tough because I started with one engine tuner then changed engine tuner, so there was a whole 6 month period of rocking up at a Grand Prix on a brand new engine and trying to figure it out on the night.
“We’re way ahead of that now, we’ve had a whole year of testing, I know what I want and my engine tuner knows what I’m looking for. We’ve done a lot of research and development this year on the bikes, so I’m excited.”
There is a sense of genuine excitement as Woffinden enters the new season with an element of unknown. He was written off by most 10 years ago and it certainly feels like things have gone somewhat full circle.
Five years on from last tasting gold in 2018, and after finishing eighth last season, relying on a wildcard to be handed his place in the series, some believe Woffinden’s days as a title contender are behind him. That serves only as fuel for another title tilt.
Woffinden insists he has no issue what people say about him with some writing him off (Monster Energy)“There’s a lot of people that’ve been talking s*** about me and I’m ready to prove ‘em wrong,” he says. “I don’t care what people think, I know what I’m about, I just focus on myself and don’t really give a s*** what anyone else thinks.
“Every time I get on the bike I want to be the best version of me. I focus on what I need to do, not what other people are doing. Everything is set up around me to just focus on my job, do what I need to do and get my head down and get on with it.”
The man to beat is unquestionably Bartosz Zmarzlik, the Polish sensation who dominated last season to claim his third world title in three years. However, Woffinden beat Zmarzlik to the punch 2018 - and is one of just three men in the line-up who have won the gold alongside 2017 champion Jason Doyle.
Woffinden has struggled with injuries after some big crashes in recent years (Ian Charles/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)“Obviously I know what it takes to do it,” Woffinden says. How early will he know if he has what it takes this year again?
“The last few years for me have been tough because I’ve come off the back of three huge injuries,” he admits.
“It all started in 2019 when I broke my back and my shoulder blade, then the year after I broke my foot twice and broke my hand, finished with an operation.
“The year after I was having a good start to the season then crashed and smashed all the ligaments in my shoulder, then crashed in Manchester and broke my femur and my tibia.
“It’s been tough from that aspect of not being on the bike all the time. But as long as you’re fit, healthy, have good nutrition, good hydration and your engines are fast, that’s all it is.
“For me, personally, I know what I’m capable of and I know I can be top three in the world every year as long as those things are there.”
Woffinden is comfortably knowing he has found a winning formula, if some fortune with fitness falls his way. But despite being one of Speedway Grand Prix’s elder statesmen, he’s in no mood to start handing out any secrets to his rivals just yet.
Asked what he’s learnt from his time at the top, he says with a wry smile: “That’s for me to worry about and other people to keep guessing.”
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