‘It would be incredible’

Published 23/04/2024 at 20:02 GMT

Three-time Speedway world champion Tai Woffinden has said he would ‘love’ to see a Speedway meeting take place at a full Old Trafford. The British star was discussing his favourite venues ahead of the 2024 Speedway Grand Prix season and picked out Manchester United’s home ground as a place he’d like to see racing one day. Watch the 2024 Speedway Grand Prix live and ad-free on discovery+.

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Tai Woffinden has said he would love to see a Speedway meeting take place at Old Trafford, stating that such an event would be “incredible”.

Ahead of the new season of Speedway Grand Prix action – live and ad-free on discovery+ – the three-time world champion discussed his favourite tracks as well as citing Manchester United’s home ground as his dream venue to race.

“Between Warsaw and Cardiff for me,” Woffinden told a media day ahead of the new campaign. “I would have said Cardiff five years ago but the numbers are very slowly declining. The buzz just ain’t there like it used to be.

“The atmosphere in Warsaw is pretty incredible. But then you’ve got half the people in Cardiff and you have the same level of atmosphere.

“I went to watch Manchester United and I would love to see a 60-70,000-seater full to watch Speedway. More often, not just in Warsaw. It would be incredible.”

A general view of Old Trafford ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on April 07, 2024.

Image credit: Getty Images

Although there are currently no plans in place for any Speedway at Old Trafford, the 2024 Speedway of Nations will actually be held in Manchester at the National Speedway Stadium.

Woffinden, alongside fellow Speedway Grand Prix riders Dan Bewley and Robert Lambert, will be representing Great Britain on home soil, where they will be hoping to repeat the success of 2021 at the same venue and make up for a loss in the final 12 months later in Vojens, Denmark.

“That’s obviously what we’re aiming for,” Woffinden stated with regard to claiming another gold medal. “We’ve proven we can be at that level. We’ve just got to keep going and keep pushing forwards as we always have done.”

Woffinden, 33, is Britain’s most successful rider with world titles in 2013, 2015 and 2018 and begins the 2024 campaign looking to claim a first championship in six years.

But having been plagued by injury during that time – including a huge crash in Cardiff last season as well as missing the final two meetings of the campaign – the Scunthorpe-born star believes he is better placed to compete fully again this time around.

“I’ve been injured every year since 2019,” he confessed. “I broke my back in 2019 and it’s been a constant grind ever since then.

“It’s not been ideal, but it’s part of what we do.

“I did a lot more rehab this year. Spent a lot more time with my strength and conditioning coach in Australia. Really looked after my left shoulder. I crashed in 2011 or 2012, dislocated my shoulder and never really looked after it so it’s nice to feel the same on both sides which I haven’t done for many years.

“This year is probably the most settled I’ve been. At the end of 2022, we sold our house in Europe, went to Australia for five months, came back to England and the house we were buying wasn’t ready until June, July. So I was living out of a hotel for the first two months of the year. That’s just not ideal preparation when you’re going to race in a world championship.

“I feel like we’re pretty much there now. I’m very excited for this year.”

The 2024 Speedway Grand Prix will be available live and ad-free on discovery+.

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