Woffy takes British speedway title

Tai Woffinden successfully defended his British speedway championship at his home league track in Wolverhampton tonight.

The world champion wasn’t the top scorer from the 20 qualifying heats, taking 12 points from his five rides, but he won the semi-final from fellow GP rider Chris Harris, leaving the pair to join leading qualifiers Craig Cook and Ben Barker in the final.

Woffinden, fresh from victory in Saturday night’s Swedish GP, raced to victory in the final to claim his second British title from runner-up Cook and third-placed man Barker.

The runner-up spot was particularly valuable for Cook, as the highest-finishing non-GP rider takes the wild card ride at the British Grand Prix. The 27-year-old former motocrosser, who only took up speedway five years ago, will now race in front of the biggest speedway crowd in the world at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on July 12.