No Woffinden....

[weatherwatcher 664]

Over the last few seasons he has turned his back on almost anything to do with British Speedway, When the SWC comes around you will see him spending more time with his Aussie mates than he will with his British team mates. What ever happened the other year when he threatened to pull out of British Speedway full stop if the BPSA and SCB didn't listen to what he had to say and do what he told them to do, did they tell him to go away in no polite terms.

Would not be at all suprised if he decides to call in a sicky a couple of days before the SWC, and go to Aus for a month holiday due to stress problems, he has just gotton to big for his boots. Noone is biggter than the sport or so they say.

Will he come limping back to ride here when he starts to get older and the Swedes and Poles no longer want his services. If that was the case I would tell him to take a long walk.

[Lord Skid 425]

He's about as British as Skippy the Kangaroo, but good luck to him, it's a short career, and he should look after number 1.

[britmet 233]

 

Comedy post of 2016 so far! Congratulations

Not so, this is clearly the view of many on here.

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Propose those feeling that way email Chapman and Rossiter and advocate TW is not selected for Team GB unless he reverses his decision.

How can 2 meetings burn him out ?

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[semion 2,192]

British Championship ? As The saying goes you cant polish a turd.

 

Time it went the same way as the Golden Helmet, KO Cup etc.

[Woz01 3,589]

He shouldn't have accepted the GB captaincy if he's going to always look after number 1. A captain needs to show commitment to GB events and do that little bit extra.

[Trees 2,814]

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.

But it's BSI's baby, doesn't help our leagues.

[Shale Searcher 1,264]

Over the last few seasons he has turned his back on almost anything to do with British Speedway, When the SWC comes around you will see him spending more time with his Aussie mates than he will with his British team mates. What ever happened the other year when he threatened to pull out of British Speedway full stop if the BPSA and SCB didn't listen to what he had to say and do what he told them to do, did they tell him to go away in no polite terms.

Would not be at all suprised if he decides to call in a sicky a couple of days before the SWC, and go to Aus for a month holiday due to stress problems, he has just gotton to big for his boots. Noone is biggter than the sport or so they say.

Will he come limping back to ride here when he starts to get older and the Swedes and Poles no longer want his services. If that was the case I would tell him to take a long walk.

 

Off a short pier!!!, I hope, not heard that saying in years!!!

 

"Take a long walk off a short pier"

[Coventry_Bee 467]

Its sad when a person who wanted to reach the top used the British speedway scene as it was his way really into the sport, stuck his middle finger up and really didn't want to be at wolves in 2014 or his scores and form didn't reflect somebody who was and then this is the 2 fingered salute. We are talking about an extremely fit 25 year old man who thinks 2 extra meetings is going to cause burn out? Does he think we are that gullible to accept that as a reason. 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.

 

It will be interesting to see the reaction he gets at Cardiff to be quite honest, it will be ok but not as it was last year. I hope the real Australian, Chris Holder is world Champion this season. Has shown apart from a short time great commitment to our league and with what he has been through the past few years nothing would be more fitting than seeing him as world champion once again.

Edited March 30, 2016 by Coventry_Bee

[eric i 620]

British Championship ? As The saying goes you cant polish a turd.

 

Time it went the same way as the Golden Helmet, KO Cup etc.

Why is it turd?

[Dave the Mic 258]

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.

[foamfence 2,917]

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.

Choosing the money.

[ColinMills 1,728]

Well, what a disappointment. id followed Tai and spoke up for him numerous times on here, BUT, no longer. Is that one day going

to make or break his title bid? I very much doubt it..

He could of slightly helped his cause, by taking the mic at belle vue and telling his fans in person of his decision, but no, not gave

a toss about his "fans"...im just gutted I wasted £25 on his merchandise, cos I sure wont be putting anymore money in that direction.

chapman and rosco clearly don't want to speak out of line either!

Come on bomber, this can be the biggest incentive you ever had to put one over him now, I'm sure your the one the crowd will back

in Cardiff now.

As for above post backing his charity? don't bring that into it. It was done on HIS behalf, he chose to do it, WE gave the money!

I'm sure 90% on here has gone out and raised some kind of money for charity!

[Agrotron 955]

Fk Woffinden who needs the twit I wouldn't care if he decides to change nationality, you want to see a Brit that has Brit spirit look no further than Bomber ok not everyone's favourite but he is totally committed to the British cause.

[Crazy robin 2,963]

Any reason given?

 

Yes he's more an Aussie than a Brit & no matter what spin Rosco gives on this it's a JOKE

[Dave the Mic 258]

Well, what a disappointment. id followed Tai and spoke up for him numerous times on here, BUT, no longer. Is that one day going

to make or break his title bid? I very much doubt it..

He could of slightly helped his cause, by taking the mic at belle vue and telling his fans in person of his decision, but no, not gave

a toss about his "fans"...im just gutted I wasted £25 on his merchandise, cos I sure wont be putting anymore money in that direction.

chapman and rosco clearly don't want to speak out of line either!

Come on bomber, this can be the biggest incentive you ever had to put one over him now, I'm sure your the one the crowd will back

in Cardiff now.

As for above post backing his charity? don't bring that into it. It was done on HIS behalf, he chose to do it, WE gave the money!

I'm sure 90% on here has gone out and raised some kind of money for charity!

Sorry Colin, can't agree with your comments here. Bomber gets slated by all & sundry on here for "not being good enough to be in the GP's", so I don't see everyone here standing up & cheering him on, when all he does is gets criticised. Your choice not support Woffinden & you are entitled to your view, but your comment concerning his charity work is odd. I don't think anyone else did the cycling for him, did they? Yes, we donated the money, but it was his commitment & profile that got us to do it. If you are suggesting he did that as a stunt, I think you are way off the mark. And you are right - he chose to do it, no one forced him to, it was his decision. How many other riders have?