No Woffinden....

[Stoke Potter]

For some reason I cant see Tai riding into his 30's, I may well be proved wrong but there is just something that kind of says he will do this for a couple more years and then call it a day and then head home to the sun.

 

You're not the only one who thinks that.

[Coventry_Bee]

The Australian championships that runs in line with our season? And you really think after the end of season he had he wanted to just get away from speedway? That's like asking why doesn't Greg do the American series😁.

 

Is the Australian championship run over a semi and final? Or is it held all over the shop over a few rounds? Same as Denmark am I right in thinking?

 

 

 

Is that the same Chris Holder that decided not to ride in the Australian Championships?

Edited March 30, 2016 by Coventry_Bee

[BWitcher]

What a load of verbal diarrhoea most people on here have spouted. Woffinden was born in England & his parents opted to emigrate to Australia. I don't see how that is his fault & anyone in his position will have a natural affinity with the country & it's people. He grew up there & essentially, it is "home" to him. I have a friend who moved there about 3 years ago & already calls it home.

 

He chose to represent the country of his birth, but could easily have elected to race for Australia, but didn't. You can argue it was a choice of convenience all you like, but for someone with the confidence he has always had in his own ability, he would have backed himself to get in an Aussie side any day, so the "He races for GB because he couldn't get in the Aussie side" argument is bollox.

 

He has always been the first to hold his hand up & race in the SWC, just like Bomber has & has excelled very time, just as Bomber has, but he gets a slating from all and sundry as well, because he "doesn't deserve his place in the GP". Brits can't win, can they? Bomber races in every meeting going & gets slated, Woffinden picks his racing & gets slated. Brilliant.

 

The British Championship means almost nothing these days, unlike in the heady days of the 70's & even the 80's & 90's when there were many world class Brits & several who could win it in any given year, unlike now, when the reality is Woffinden has no real competition & only has to turn up.

 

If you doubt his commitment - PC dropped out of the BL in 1981 & I remember the uproar when he was denied a place in the WC qualifiers that year, almost everyone came in on his side after the BSPA said he couldn't compete - he even considered taking out a foreign licence to do so, Wiggy did that, took out a foreign licence to race in the WC's back in the late 90's & early noughties. Nicholls refused to race for Team GB & so did the sadly missed Lee Richardson. Assume that's all OK, because everyone wants to bash Woffinden, yet institutions like PC & Wiggy can do what they want. Nicholls is BRitish & proud, but had his reasons for not competing & his decision was respected by most, what is the difference between those I have mentioned & Woffinden. Nowt, as far as I can see.

 

Woffinden may not be everyone's cup of tea, but don't slate him for looking after his own interests. Many, many riders have done so in the past, usually winners, which, unless I am mistaken, is the name of the game. Ivan Mauger did exactly the same thing & he did OK out of it, didn't he. Woffinden is THE most professional rider in speedway at the moment, which is why he is a double world champion. Speedway is a sport, not a popularity contest & the best know it. Do you think sponsors will care what a few whingers on a forum think, when their man is all across the TV & media promoting them? Of course. Many riders have cut down on their racing due the hectic schedules they have. How many world class stars have stopped racing in the UK - dozens, because it's a pain in the ass with different race days, flights in & out & to be blunt an EL that is about as strong as the second tier sides in Poland & Sweden. So why bother?

 

The BSPA are bunch of idiots & couldn't run a bath without burning themselves, much less run a "professional sport" properly. Why do you think speedway in the UK is in the mess it is in? Riders have had to wait ages to be paid, put up with poor management & decision making & lord knows what else from the powers that be in this country. It doesn't matter if you are from Birmingham or Botswana, putting up with the crap dished out by the people that run the sport in this country is enough to drive anyone away & there have been plenty of Brit's who have felt the same. They are the ones that cause the issue, not the likes of Woffinden. If his reasoning is that he hasn't been paid on time previously, or that the dates for the semis & final are either side of a GP weekend, or whatever, then to be honest, I would back him totally. In his position I would sooner focus my energy on winning a third world title than race in what, to be honest, is at best a second rate meeting these days.

 

Regardless of you lot moaning, when he pulls on the GB colours at Cardiff & Belle Vue, there will be plenty cheering him on & if his reaction to his reception at Cardiff in he last few years is anything to go by, with the tremendous support he gets from the Cardiff crowd, he is pretty proud to represent them.

 

Finally, before I step down from my soap box, if any of you have raised the money he has for charity by doing to bike rides he has, whilst trying to compete as a professional sportsman all across Europe, I take my hat off to you & will accept all your moaning & whinging. If not, I would argue he is a better man than all of you - and me - because, despite what you lot think, he does care & cares about important stuff like raising money to help sick kids have a better life.

 

Brilliant post, agree 100% with every word of it.

Not a Woffy fan,but don't see what all the fuss is about,the same fans moaning watch their speedway every week with riders missing ,guests,R/R yet get all excited about a rider missing a meeting .He could have said nothing and just got "a sickness bug" on the week of the British Final.

 

Just as Nicki Pedersen has done before the Danish Final quite a few times... yet earlier in the thread we're told how you wouldn't see riders from other countries do it.

 

Holder is another one mentioned.... how often does he ride in the Australian Final?

 

Basically all we're seeing is the usual British trait of bashing someone who is doing well.. jealousy for the most part.. xenophobia from others.

Edited March 30, 2016 by BWitcher

[Former devil]

 

He didn't just ride to raise his profile. He rode out of his skin. Dislike him as much as you want but you cannot knock his effort when representing GB.

Of course 'he rode out of his skin' he gets paid per point!

[New Science]

Don't think anyone's mentioned Emil Sayfutdinov yet.

 

One of the greatest riders in the world choosing not to take part in the sport's highest competition.

And he's rightly been pilloried for it by many on this forum , Why should Woffinden be exempt just because he's British and World Champion.

[RPNY]

Of course 'he rode out of his skin' he gets paid per point!

Yup and thats the sole reason... Seriously.

[keepturningleft]

Much has been said on this thread about the the BF having been rendered almost worthless over the last few years.

 

However, it must be said that there has never been a better time to 'up the status' of this event, a view based totally on choice of venue.

 

I was at the aborted Belle Vue opener and it's crystal clear that this is going to be one hell of a venue.

Brilliant stadium, incredible track (surely), a much higher profile venue than Wolverhampton and with good local media coverage guaranteed, in Britain's 3rd city.

 

For these reasons it has to be disappointing that Tai has withdrawn.

[RPNY]

Much has been said on this thread about the the BF having been rendered almost worthless over the last few years.

 

However, it must be said that there has never been a better time to 'up the status' of this event, a view based totally on choice of venue.

 

I was at the aborted Belle Vue opener and it's crystal clear that this is going to be one hell of a venue.

Brilliant stadium, incredible track (surely), a much higher profile venue than Wolverhampton and with good local media coverage guaranteed, in Britain's 3rd city.

 

For these reasons it has to be disappointing that Tai has withdrawn.

Now that I can understand my friend.

[ColinMills]

just read an old on-line Sun story. Tai quotes, id love speedway to be more popular -"it annoys me when people say i used

to go to speedway and watch Mauger and Briggo, i would like to think that legacy can continue"........well thanks for

helping Tai................

[BWitcher]

And he's rightly been pilloried for it by many on this forum , Why should Woffinden be exempt just because he's British and World Champion.

 

Because Woffinden isn't choosing to dip out of the sport's highest competition.. in fact he is doing quite the opposite.

[Red Flag]

Its a major cock up on his part in my opinion, in years to come he will look back and think why on earth did I make that decision. I agree that maybe a few riders should be seeded through to the final but where does it stop, how many ? Bomber, Scott, Cookie ?? It does stick 2 fingers up at us as fans and I thought he had given a years break to his charity work to concentrate on speedway and forgive me for being stupid but is the British title not something to be proud of? no matter what line up it is its still steeped in history. His previous titles and any future titles are now steeped in controversy and bitterness,He could go on and beat Scott's record but it's tainted.

 

In my eyes he may be world champion but the ego has well and truly landed. Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris may not have the talent as Tai but will always be thought of and regarded as great British riders, the battles they had were great and they wanted that British title above league titles any day. Modern world and speedway today goes to show that 2 meetings for the worlds best rider in his prime against the old boys and Cookie is far too much for him to deal with and will burn him out. Is that the same Scott Nicholls that hasn't wanted to represent his country in a team event but is happy to ride in the British Final representing himself??

 

[Shadders]

Went off him the day he refused my then 10 year old son an autograph before the 2008 PLRC.

[Dave the Mic]

yes he raised 1,000s, I'm sure we all have donated, did charity events, ALL amounts are important, not just the big cheques.

Of course his name carries weight in fund raising, I was just pointing out, his charity work isn't really the issue here.

And at no point, did I even suggest it was a publicity stunt.

Woffy as yet, hasn't achieved a Cardiff win, my point was bomber putting one over him in Cardiff, not winning the world title.

Until today I never thought in-different about woffy, but this stinks of the highest order. ONE DAY in a busy top class

quality rider. You will never convince me, one day will change anything about his title bid.

I don't dispute that all amounts are important. The point is, he id it. Many on this thread have questioned him as a person. His charity work highlights how wrong they are. You insinuated that he didn't do it, it was others. I was merely pointing out that isn't correct. So what if he hasn't won in Cardiff? But can you imagine the crowd reaction if he did? It doesn't stink of the highest order, what rot. Your last but one sentence makes no sense. I'm not suggesting it will make any difference, but the point is this is a storm in a tea cup. Lots of riders have done similar & haven't been slated as this. I had forgotten Mark Loram had done one on the British Championship one year, but he is treated like a deity by most Britis fans. It's a load of cobblers & what it stinks of is double standards. Read the posts by Gavan & BWitcher. Get some perspective.

[Mark]

Nobody is perfect but why not try to see the good in Tai.

 

Loads of GP riders don't ride in the UK. Can't blame them as its a random fixture list that needs to be sorted out and it's not the best paid league.

 

Maybe being forced to ride in a qualifier for the UK Championship is for a bit pointless and a waste of time when you're the World Champion. Maybe the clever people at the BPSA should give a few wild cards in future years. He hasn't got any bikes over here so it must be a pain in the ass to move them across from Poland or Sweden.

 

Dont forget the huge amount of money he makes for charity.

 

He gives 100% for GB in the SWC and will do again in 2016 at Manchester.

[ColinMills]

Went off him the day he refused my then 10 year old son an autograph before the 2008 PLRC.

went off him today.

I don't dispute that all amounts are important. The point is, he id it. Many on this thread have questioned him as a person. His charity work highlights how wrong they are. You insinuated that he didn't do it, it was others. I was merely pointing out that isn't correct. So what if he hasn't won in Cardiff? But can you imagine the crowd reaction if he did? It doesn't stink of the highest order, what rot. Your last but one sentence makes no sense. I'm not suggesting it will make any difference, but the point is this is a storm in a tea cup. Lots of riders have done similar & haven't been slated as this. I had forgotten Mark Loram had done one on the British Championship one year, but he is treated like a deity by most Britis fans. It's a load of cobblers & what it stinks of is double standards. Read the posts by Gavan & BWitcher. Get some perspective.

pathetic. "double standards" is a two way thing, don't go spouting off to the Sun newspaper to look good, saying how people

used to go and watch the best, Mauger and Briggo......then the best (now) don't give them the opportunity to see them!! double standards my a*se!!

[Notenoughnerve]

I think it was summed up on here quite nicely last year when someone said he had a total lack of class. Exactly right!

The more you see of him, the less you like.

Swearing on tv last year, great move! How often do you see the likes of Rooney swearing on tv? Never, and there's very good reason for it.

TW doesn't put any bums on seats, no loss, let him go. The British fans should find themselves another hero.

Never hear Rooney swear? Are you having a laugh? He's even been in bother for swearing at England fans after a game.

[Fourentee]

Went off him the day he refused my then 10 year old son an autograph before the 2008 PLRC.

 

Well, not knowing the specific circumstances, I can imagine how that would colour your view. It's presumably no consolation to you, but for the record during the time I was covering Wolves I never once saw him refuse an autograph or photograph and he would invariably chat to youngsters in particular while signing/posing for picture. Most speedway riders I've come across do the same, but given the sheer volume of requests in Tai's case it always surprised me a touch just how gracious he was about it.

[Gavan]

Some people on here need to look at the bigger picture! All I'm reading is he isn't even British which is just an absurd an easy way to bash him. How often did Holder and Ward do the Aussie champs? Where was Holder this season? The Aussie champs aren't eveb in GP time so no excuses for him not to ride. Nicki Pedersen misses the Danish Champs nothing is said. Greg Hancock doesn't do the Us Champs. Sorry but there are some pathetic bunch of losers on here just looking for the bad in Tai and time after time being up his nationality which just shoes how incredibly thick some of you are. Not one of you people having a go have even bothered to mention the dates of the semis or the final itself! Have you seen the dates or is it easier just to join in with the in crowd and have a whinge. One of you are trotting out 'it's just one more meeting in his schedule, yes it is, smack bang before a GP. Some of you who call yourselves speedway fans are a joke. And do you honestly think more people go because he would have rode??? I doubt it. We followed Mark Loram everywhere but we still went to the British Final when he missed out in 1993.

[Triple.H.]

Never hear Rooney swear? Are you having a laugh? He's even been in bother for swearing at England fans after a game.

I suspect the point is that Rooney doesn't swear while being interviewed.

[Marcelle]

Tai's decision not to ride says more about the state/organisation of British Speedway than it does of Him...and If You can;t work that out then.....Well !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited March 30, 2016 by Marcelle