WOFFINDEN READY FOR SPEEDWAY GP TITLE FIGHT AS 2023 SERIES LAUNCHES IN CROATIA

29/04/2023

WOFFINDEN READY FOR SPEEDWAY GP TITLE FIGHT AS 2023 SERIES LAUNCHES IN CROATIA

Great Britain icon Tai Woffinden expects an open fight for the 2023 FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship as the series gets underway in Croatia tonight.

The Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia returns to what’s expected to be a packed Speedway Stadion Milenium in Donji Kraljevec, located close to the Hungarian and Slovenian borders, with fans flocking from across Europe to enjoy one of the sport’s finest purpose-built speedway venues.

It’s the start of a special season for the sport as speedway celebrates its 100th anniversary since the first meeting at Maitland Showgrounds in New South Wales, Australia on December 15, 1923. Global promoter Warner Bros. Discovery Sports is set to mark that milestone on and off the track, as we honour the legends of yesteryear, celebrate the heroes of today and develop the stars of the future.

Last year’s event saw Poland’s triple world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik launch his world title charge with a victory, before leading the Speedway GP World Championship from start to finish. But he faces stiff competition from the likes of 2022 runner-up Leon Madsen of Denmark, world No.3 Maciej Janowski from Poland, Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren, Poland’s former world No.2 Patryk Dudek, and British trio Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley and Tai Woffinden.

TITLE NO.4 FOR TAI?

Woffinden finished eighth in 2023 but is determined to recapture the sublime form that saw him win three Speedway GP world titles in 2013, 2015 and 2018.

Having seen off Zmarzlik in an epic title race in 2018, Woffinden is hopeful of challenging a man who has lifted the Speedway GP trophy in three of the last four seasons. But he knows he won’t be the only rider up for the challenge.

Woffinden said: “I am normally the one that can give him a run for his money. But it’s the World Championship for a reason – you can’t overlook any of the other riders. Everyone is there to do the job.

“We start the season with a blank canvas and just get on with it. We will see where we are in a few months. I know where I want to be and what I am capable of doing. We have done all the right things and ticked all the boxes. Now it’s time to get going.”

Woffinden is part of golden generation of British riders, which won the 2021 FIM Speedway of Nations world title in Manchester – GB’s first world team title in 32 years.

He is joined in the Speedway GP line-up by Robert Lambert, who finished fifth in 2022, and Dan Bewley, who won back-to-back SGPs in Cardiff and Wroclaw on his way to sixth place overall.

Woffinden is pleased to see two more Brits making an impact on the world stage. He said: “It’s amazing and props to them both. That’s what it’s all about – getting that opportunity and getting on with it.

“They are there at the pointy end, which makes the championship that much more interesting, especially with the other guys in the championship who are doing similar things now or have done in the past. It’s exciting for the sport.”

MADSEN: SWAPPING SILVER FOR GOLD?

Zmarzlik’s closest rival in 2022 was Danish ace Leon Madsen, who finished 33 points behind the world champion.

While Madsen reached all 10 Speedway GP semi-finals last term, he only converted five of them into final appearances. The Czestochowa star knows he needs to reach the rostrum more if he is to swap silver for gold.

He said: “You need to be consistent, but you also need to get into those finals every time. I’m not sure you need to win, but if you are in the final every time and getting on the podium, you are collecting a lot of points. That’s what you need to be the winner. For sure I will try to get into those finals every time.”

Madsen came agonisingly close to gold in 2019, winning three Speedway GPs in Warsaw, Cardiff and Torun, before losing out to Zmarzlik.

“I have been very close before,” he said. “If we look back at 2019, I was only two points down on Bartek. If we had been working with the same points system we have now, I would have won.

“That gives me confidence and belief that I can win the World Championship. If I can be consistent, get into those finals every time and do a few other things I need to improve, we can get there. We know what those things are. We are working hard on that and implementing some new things on the bike.

“Last season we tried some things out and they were working very well. We are bringing that into this season and the pre-season tests have shown some good results. That gives us good belief that we are in a better position than last year.”

Zmarzlik and Madsen: The world's top two

2023 TEHNIX FIM SPEEDWAY GP OF CROATIA LINE-UP (in FIM ranking order with rider numbers): 95 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland), 30 Leon Madsen (Denmark), 71 Maciej Janowski (Poland), 66 Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden), 505 Robert Lambert (Great Britain), 99 Dan Bewley (Great Britain), 692 Patryk Dudek (Poland), 108 Tai Woffinden (Great Britain), 54 Martin Vaculik (Slovakia), 69 Jason Doyle (Australia), 155 Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark), 25 Jack Holder (Australia), 46 Max Fricke (Australia), 105 Anders Thomsen (Denmark), 233 Kim Nilsson (Sweden), 16 Matej Zagar (Slovenia – wild card), 17 Nick Skorja (Slovenia – first track reserve), 18 Norbert Magosi (Hungary – second track reserve).

CROATIA FANZONE

Fans visiting the Speedway Stadion Milenium can enjoy the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP fanzone from 12:00 CET, where visitors can take a photo with the Speedway GP trophy and sit on a speedway bike.

There will be activities in the Monster Energy zone, a vintage bikes exhibition, attractions for kids, food and beverage stalls and the SGP merchandise shop.

Fans have the chance to win Speedway GP prizes at both 15:30 CET and 17:45 CET with our quizzes – with the winner of the 15:30 CET quiz getting the chance to bring the Speedway GP trophy on to the stage with American great Greg Hancock ahead of the evening’s racing.

Fans can take a photo with the Monster Energy Girls from 15:45 CET and fans can meet Monster Energy athletes Fredrik Lindgren, Dan Bewley, Patryk Dudek, Tai Woffinden and Jack Holder in the Monster Energy Zone from 16:00 CET.

All of the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP stars will be signing autographs in the fanzone from 16:30 CET, before we crown the King and Queen of the Fanzone at 18:00 CET.

WHERE TO WATCH

Qualifying Practice: Saturday – 13:00 CET

Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia: 19:00 CET

Fans with access to discovery+ or the Eurosport App, available in selected countries, can enjoy full live coverage of all the FIM Speedway action this year, featuring Qualifying Practice, plus all the build-up from the pits and reaction after the chequered flag falls, as well as the very best coverage of the racing including pit and on-board cameras, rider reaction times and, coming soon, live speed data.

Coverage of Speedway GP is available worldwide with linear coverage of the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP also available in selected countries – see below for more details of where to watch.

To check where to follow the action where you live, click HERE.

ACROSS EUROPE: Live on the Eurosport App

BRITAIN: Live on discovery, Eurosport App + and Eurosport 2

POLAND: Live on Eurosport Extra in Player

SWEDEN: Live on Kanal 9 and Discovery+

DENMARK: Live on 6’eren and discovery+

AUSTRALIA: Live on Fox Sports

NEW ZEALAND: Live on Recast

USA/CANADA: Live on Recast

GERMANY: Live on ServusTV Motorsports, available on Magenta TV, discovery+

ACROSS THE BALTICS: Live on discovery+, Eurosport App, Go3 and TV3 Sport channels

CZECH REP: Live on the Eurosport App