World Speedway Championship: Tai Woffinden wins in Prague to extend lead
Last Updated: 24/05/15 8:18am
Tai Woffinden extended his lead at the top of speedway’s World Championship standings to six points after securing an exciting victory in the Czech Republic Grand Prix.
Woffinden won the final against Polish duo Jaroslaw Hampel and Maciej Janowski, and Dane Nicki Pedersen.
It was also his third straight victory in Prague and achieved in front of a huge British contingent who had travelled to the Czech capital.
Seven of the last 11 winners of the Czech Grand Prix have gone on to be crowned world champion in the same season, as Woffinden did in 2013.
And the 24-year-old said afterwards: "There was such a big British fan base here tonight. Every year it has grown more and more.
"That's great for me. I don't just do speedway for myself. I do it for the people, I work with my sponsors, my family, my friends and the fans.
“When I get on my bike, it's not just for me. It's for everybody and I want to put on a show for everyone watching."
As for his success at the Marketa Stadium, he added: "I don't know what's happening. I've ridden different engines in each of the last three years I've been here."
Second placed Hammel, a two-time runner-up in the World Championship, admitted being disappointed: "I didn't start well. My races were up and down. I'd win one and come third in another.
"I couldn't find the right set up and I couldn't get my speed. That's why I couldn't find the right line to fight on the track. I worked really hard in the pits with my team to find some more speed and the result was fine in the end."
The championship takes a break for six weeks, with the next round at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on July 4.
Final Prague positions: 1 Tai Woffinden; 2 Jaroslaw Hampel; 3 Maciej Janowski; 4 Nicki Pedersen; 5 Greg Hancock; 6 Andreas Jonsson; 7 Matej Zagar; 8 Niels-Kristian Iversen; 9 Jason Doyle; 10 Chris Holder
World Championship standings (after four of 12 rounds): 1 Tai Woffinden 40; 2 Nicki Pedersen 34; 3 Jaroslaw Hampel 31; 4 Greg Hancock 27; 5 Matej Zagar 24; 6 Andreas Jonsson 24; 7 Maciej Janowski 23; 8 Jason Doyle 22; 9 Niels-Kristian Iversen 21; 10 Michael Jepsen Jensen 19
