The sport, a relic of its 1970s heyday, is crying out for a Bernie Ecclestone or Barry Hearn to revolutionise itSo far has British speedway fallen from public awareness that few might appreciate the sport´s successes. This month the British rider Tai Woffinden was awarded the Torrens Trophy, the Royal Automobile Club´s recognition of outstanding contribution to motorcycling. He deserves it. Last October Woffinden became the first British rider to clinch the world speedway championship for a third time, following titles in 2013 and 2015. His intention is to reach Ivan Mauger and Tony Rickardsson´s mark of six.Born in Scunthorpe, the 28-year-old grew up in Perth, Australia, where he first rode a speedway bike as a 12-year-old. He was hooked from the off. `When I get on the bike and am riding it, there is no difference from when I was 12 to now,` he says. `When I sit on the bike, holding it wide open through the corners and I know it is going fast, there is no better feeling than that. I will keep doing it until I am either paralysed or I don´t enjoy it any more, they are the only two things that will stop me. The day I stop enjoying it is the day I stop riding.` Continue reading...
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