Tai Woffinden ready to prove critics wrong in 2023 Speedway GP season - 'People have been talking s**t about me'
:focal(145x121:147x119)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2022/07/15/3411067-69701524-310-310.jpg)
Updated 24/04/2023 at 07:42 GMT
Tai Woffinden has made it clear he can still compete among the very best riders in the Speedway Grand Prix after revealing everything he has done since the end of last season has been done in preparation for 2023. Woffinden, who is looking to become a four-time world champion, says he is “super fit and super healthy” ahead of the season which begins on April 29 in Croatia, live on Eurosport.
Watch Zmarzlik lift world championship trophy in front of home crowd
Tai Woffinden says he is ready to prove his critics wrong ahead of the new Speedway Grand Prix campaign.
Woffinden finished eighth last season in another injury-ridden year where he fractured his ribs and injured his back.
The 32-year-old is the second-most experienced rider in the field and has been racing in Australia over the winter.
“I know what I'm capable of,” said Woffinden. “I know that I can be top three in the world every year.
“Last year was tough because I started the season with one engine tuner and then changed engine tuner. So, there was a whole six-month period of rocking up to a Grand Prix, running a brand-new engine and trying to figure it out and design it, because I didn't have time to test.
“We are way ahead of all that stuff now, so we have had a full year of testing. I know what I want from the engine, my engine tuner knows what I want what I'm looking for.
“We have done a lot of research and development this year on the bikes with the stuff that we have been testing. I’m exciting, really looking forward to this year.
“There's a lot of people been talking s**t about me and I'm ready to prove them all wrong.”
Woffinden has made significant changes to his team and has moved back to the UK from Poland since the end of last season.
He says “every minute” of what he has done over the last six months has been dedicated for the upcoming campaign, which begins in Gorican on Saturday, April 29 on Eurosport and discovery+.
“The last few years have been tough because I've come up with three huge injuries,” explained Woffinden.
“It all started in 2019 when I broke my back and my shoulder blade. Then the year after I broke my foot twice and finished with a broken hand and had an operation.
“Then the year after I was having a good start to the season, everything was normal and then I crashed and smashed all the ligaments in my shoulder, which took me about a month and a half to get right. Then I crashed in Manchester and broke my femur and my tibia.
“So, the previous years have been tough on that aspect, and not being on the bike all the time. As long as you're fit, healthy, you got good nutrition, with hydration, and your engine is fast, that’s all there is.”
- - -
Stream every round of the 2023 Speedway Grand Prix season live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement