LEGEND Greg Hancock has backed Brit Tai Woffinden to fight for a fourth World Championship.
The American superstar believes that Woffy can regain his crown from red-hot favourite Bartosz Zmarzlik.
The Grand Prix series kicks off tonight in Gorican, Croatia with Woffinden and fellow Brits Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley in the hunt for glory.
Hancock said: “It’s very early days but I’ve been impressed with Tai so far this year, he’s made some improvements and he looks great.
“The question is whether he can maintain it all year and if he has the stamina to do it all season but from what I see and what I’m hearing from him, he can be the man to put a parachute on Zmarzlik.
“It’s going to be tough and he’s got his work cut out but he’s the one with the experience and the hunger to do it, he’s more than capable. The ball is in his court, if he really wants it then Tai could do big things.”
The American legend admitted that Zmarzlik’s challengers have a tough task to deny him a fourth title in five years.
He added: “I am a huge Zmarzlik fan, he’s special. He works hard, has so much natural ability, has massive drive and he stops at nothing to improve. He’s always looking for more and never satisfied with what he’s got and that’s what you need. Your time at the top is limited so you have to be hungry for more all the time and he has that.
“He is, for sure, a big favourite because he just has his whole programme in such a good place but that doesn’t mean it’s a one-horse race.”
Hancock was in the corner of protégé Maciej Janowski throughout the SGP series last season, but won’t be working with him this year. With Magic set to go it alone this season, does his mentor feel he has what it takes to finally sustain a title charge?
He said: “Magic is at a point now where he’s finding his own feet and figuring out that he wants to do it his way, and I think that’s a really good thing.
“With him it’s just a question of time, when he’s ready to win he will because he has everything.
“He has the speed, he has the ability, with Magic it’s whether he has the head for it and I feel like he does now.
“He could be the man to beat Bartek if he puts it all together, and I’m excited to see what he can put together on his own.
“I’m always going to be a Magic fan, I love the kid and it’s just waiting for the stars to align for him. I think he’s close now.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.