Tai gives GB boost despite cup exit (From Bournemouth Echo)

Tai gives GB boost despite cup exit

12:01am Friday 18th July 2008 in

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GREAT BRITAIN 36 SWEDEN 53 POLAND 50 RUSSIA 17 NEIL Middleditch believes Tai Woffinden can handle the high level of expectancy placed on his shoulders after the teenager sparkled on his World Team Cup debut last night.

The 17-year-old wonder boy made a stunning entry to top level international speedway when he scored nine points for Great Britain in Vojens.

It was a fantastic fighting effort by the Scunthorpe rider, who rode two times for Pirates last season.

Woffinden proved he is going to be the next big thing in British speedway with some thrilling passing moves during the race-off in Denmark.

His race seven victory over Jonas Davidsson, Jarek Hampel and Renat Gafurov dripped with class as he burst from last to first on the second bend and then went on to take the chequered flag comfortably.

Woffinden's superb individual display took part of the pain of Britain's exit away as Sweden and Poland finished above them to join Denmark and Poland in the final at Vojens on Saturday.

But Poole boss Middleditch, the former GB manager who handed over the reins to Jim Lynch earlier this year, said: "I think there are some positives you can take from the meeting, particularly Tai.

"He stepped up on the big stage and showed his worth. I think we looked better although from a manager's point of view Jim will probably have thought we could have done better.

"The boys tried their best and Eddie (Kennett) was a bit unfortunate with a couple of incidents. We battled but the Swedes and Poles were a bit better than us. I don't think we were disgraced by any stretch of the imagination.

"Looking at riders' form going into the cup, we were probably good enough to make the final, but the Swedes (Peter) Ljung and (Daniel) Nermark just raised their game, they went way above their game."

Middleditch added: "From what I know of Tai, he is pretty level headed, and he and his dad Rob are pretty realistic with things. He went into the meeting with a good attitude. With the TV interviews he did, he wasn't fazed. He was very articulate.

"Tai's 17 years old. Most kids are still at school at 17, but he was riding, trying to get into the World Cup final.

"One thing's certain, Tai is going to get better and better." and better."

Speaking after he had finished a fighting second in heat 22, the teenager said: "It didn't matter if we are not going to make it to the final, it's been great for my first time (in the World Team Cup).

"Maybe next year, if I get in the team, it will be better."

Tai also praised former Pirate Michael Lee's input as his engine tuner by saying: "My Jawa is going great.

"I have a Jawa engine factory tie up and Michael knows how to hook it up good."

In yesterday's Echo, Middleditch had likened Woffinden to Lee, Britain's last real teenage sensation and the 1980 world individual champion.

Last night, Middleditch added: "Michael has done engines for years, going back to when I was riding and won the National League Riders' Championship (in 1985).

"He's been a great tuner and Tai is probably the best rider Mike has in his stable at the moment.

"Mike is helping Tai out and it's a good thing because he has been there and done it all.

"He's ridden the bike at the top level and knows what's required on the mechanical side which is great for a young rider.

"That can only be good for Tai, who rode really well tonight."

Great Britain 36: 1 Lee Richardson (0-2-1-1) 4. 2 Tai Woffinden (1-3-1-1-2-1) 9, 3 Chris Harris (2-3-2-2-2-0) 11, Edward Kennett (2- fell exc-1-0) 3, 5 Scott Nicholls (3-1-2-2-1) 9. Team manager: Jim Lynch.

Sweden 53: 1 Jonas Davidsson (2-2-3-2-1) 10, 2 Andreas Jonsson (3-2-3-3-2) 13, 3 Peter Ljung (1-3-0-3-3) 10, 4 Fredrik Lindgren (3-2-3-3-3) 14, 5 Daniel Nermark (0-ret-3-0-3) 6. Manager: Tobias Johansson.

Poland 50: 1 Tomasz Gollob (3-1-2-2-2) 10, 2 Wieslaw Jagus (2-2-2-3-2) 11, 3 Rune Holta (3-3-2-1-ret) 9, 4 Grzegorz Walasek (1-3-3-1-4) 12, 5 Jarek Hampel (2-1-1-1-3) 8. Team manager: Marek Cieslak.

Russia 17: 1 Denis Gizatullin (1-1-0-0-0-1) 3, 2 Sergey Darkin (ns-ns-ns-ns-ns) 0, 3 Danill Ivanov (0-1-0-0-0-0) 1, 4 Renat Gafurov (exc unfair riding-0-0-ret-1-0) 1, 5 Grigory Laguta (1-0-2-3-exc-6) 12. Team manager: Andrey Savin.