Middlo: Tai is like a teenage Lee (From Bournemouth Echo)

Middlo: Tai is like a teenage Lee

7:00am Thursday 17th July 2008 in

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NEIL Middleditch has likened untried Tai Woffinden to fellow teenage sensation Michael Lee ahead of the 17-year-old's senior Great Britain bow.

The Scunthorpe-born but Australia-raised teenager makes his World Team Cup debut in the white-hot cauldron of the race-off at Vojens tonight (6pm).

Woffinden and Edward Kennett, who both rode for Pirates last year, come into Britain's team in place of Simon Stead and Oliver Allen following event two at Coventry on Monday.

Britain were third behind Denmark and Sweden, and must now finish in the top two against the Swedes, Poland and Russia in Denmark tonight to reach the final.

Middleditch, who handed over the GB managerial reins to Jim Lynch earlier this year, said: "It'll be a big day for Tai.

"There's a lot of pressure on Britain, especially after a below par performance at Coventry.

"It's a big ask for a 17-year-old, but go back and look at Michael Lee. Some riders have it and some don't.

"Michael was electric from a young age and Tai reminds me of how Michael was at a similar age.

"Let's not expect too much from Tai though. He's there to do a job and if he scores some points, great."

Middleditch has no regrets about giving up Britain's managerial job, but said: "It does feel strange now the World Cup is on.

"I was sat in my local pub, the Churchill Arms in Sturminster Marshall, watching the Coventry meeting.

"It did seem strange seeing the boys I've been working with for years. It was weird and frustrating not being able to affect the results, but I've moved on.

"I've no regrets and I'm still involved in speedway with Poole.

"I did the national job for seven years. I did the best I could do with the best I had.

"I've passed the reins on to Jim.

Hopefully he will do the same, if not better."

Great Britain: 1 Nicholls, 2 Harris, 3 Richardson, 4 Woffinden, 5 Kennett.

Sweden: 1 Lindgren, 2 Ljung, 3 Jonsson, 4 J Davidsson, 5 Nermark.

Poland: 1 K Kasprzak, 2 Holta, 3 Gollob, 4 Hampel, 5 Jagus.

Russia: 1 Gizatullin, 2 G Laguta, 3 A Laguta, 4 D Ivanov, 5 Sajfutdinov.