World Junior Speedway Championship
World Junior Speedway: Batchelor wins Rye House semi, Woffinden also through.
By Admin
Jun 16, 2008, 20:26

Teenage sensation Tai Woffinden continued to deliver on his incredible potential by duly booking a place in his first ever World U-21 Final, to be held at Pardubice in the Czech Republic in October.

The British titlist finished second to the unbeaten Troy Batchelor in Sunday’s semi-final at Rye House, and ahead of Chris Holder, who took third spot after a run-off victory over Morten Risager.

There was little doubt that Woffinden also featured in the most exciting races of the day. Starting off gate 4, his opening ride saw him trail Mateusz Szczepaniak, Simon Gustafsson and Ricky Wells heading into the first bend, only to cut back and drive inside all three opponents coming out of the second. His second race, in stark contrast, saw the 17 year old maintain the outside line to surge around the field by the second bend.

After completing a hat-trick of victories in Heat 10 – this time virtually from the gate – Woffinden was beaten for the first time, as he was content to follow home the fast gating Lewis Bridger in Heat 13, before saving his most breathtaking display for last.

Heat 19 had been viewed pre-meeting as the likely clash of the biggest guns, and so it proved in practice, with Batchelor on an unbeaten 12 heading into the race, Woffinden and Holder just behind on 11 and William Lawson looking to make sure of a qualification spot. With little to show between the first three named throughout, Woffinden passed Holder for second - not once, but twice - before so nearly also catching Batchelor on the line.

Woffinden will be joined by fellow Brits Bridger and Lawson in the championship Final. At one stage, Bridger, looked down and totally out, with just 2 points to show from his first three outings, but Heat 13’s victory was followed by another in his last race, as the 18 year old made the cut for his second World Final with a point to spare. Despite his last race duck, Scot Lawson also finished on 8, and after missing out on a run-off for a World Final spot a year ago, made amends this time around.

Also making it through were Grzegorz Zengota of Poland and Sweden’s Ludvig Lindgren. Fellow Swede Simon Gustafsson qualified as reserve after winning a three man run-off for 9th place. Not so lucky was Kim Nilsson, who clipped Lewis Bridger’s rear wheel on the first bend of Heat 2, sending Bridger on into William Lawson in a cascade effect and ruling himself out of further participation with suspected concussion.

Riders’ scores and finishing order (all from 5 rides unless stated):

8 qualifiers for World Final:
1. Troy Batchelor (Australia) 15, 2. Tai Woffinden (Great Britain) 13, 3. Chris Holder (Australia) 12 (after run-off) 12, 4. Morten Risager (Denmark) 12, 5. Grzegorz Zengota (Poland) 9, 6. Lewis Bridger (Great Britain) 8, 7. William Lawson (Great Britain) 8, Ludvig Lindgren (Sweden) 8.

Reserve for World Final:
9. Simon Gustafsson (Sweden) 7 (after run-off).

Did not qualify:
10. Mateusz Szczepaniak 7, 11. Linus Eklof (Sweden) 7, 12. Ricky Wells (New Zealand) 6, 13. Tobias Busch (Germany) 3, 14. Tyron Proctor (reserve) (Australia) 2 (2 rides), 15. Max Dilger (Germany) 1, 16. Robert Kasprzak (Poland) 1, 17. Josh Auty (reserve) (Great Britain) 1 (2 rides), 18. Kim Nilsson 0 (1 ride).

The Things He Said: Tai Woffinden
Speaking on the rostrum after receiving his second place trophy, Tai Woffinden had the following to say:

“Obviously, I wanted to win it today, but my main goal was to get through to Pardubice. I was kind of done by my third heat, and when Lewis (Bridger) made the gate on me in my next one, I wasn’t going to try to pass him because I was through. And it was a good job that he got through as well, because that was an extra Brit in.

“As for Heat 19, I watched Chris (Holder) and Batch (Troy Batchelor) for their last two rides, and they were just riding a really quick line out on the fence, so I thought I might as well do that. They both went to the inside, expecting me to come underneath, which gave me my chance.

“I want to say a special thanks to all my corporate sponsors up in the box. Also, to all the people that came down to support me, and to all the family on the first corner. Thanks to everyone!”