SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead admits that the injuries suffered by Tai Woffinden have cast a shadow over tonight’s season opener against Birmingham.
Woffinden remains in hospital after crashing during a challenge fixture in Poland on Sunday.
As a result the Tigers will be operating rider-replacement at Owlerton for their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash against Birmingham Brummies with everyone except Jack Holder eligible to take the three-time world champion’s rides.
Stead admitted: “What happened to Tai has knocked the stuffing out of us a bit.
“It’s been a really strange and tough couple of days for everyone in the team, connected with the club and the whole speedway world because he is one of the biggest names and characters we’ve got.
“He hasn’t been off my mind this week and my thoughts and very best wishes go to Tai and all of his family.
“It does leave a massive hole in our team with everything he brings on and off track – but the reality is, our season gets underway on Thursday and if he were here Tai would have been firing the lads up and winning would be on his mind.
“One thing I do know with this group of lads is that they are head-strong, determined and there is a real togetherness and that is going to count for so, so much, particularly in these opening weeks of the season.”
British trio Anders Rowe, Danyon Hume and Leon Flint make their Tigers’ debuts alongside the returning Holder brothers and newly appointed captain Josh Pickering.
Birmingham include two members of Sheffield’s title-winning 2023 squad in their ranks with Tobiasz Musielak and Rising Star Jason Edwards no strangers to Owlerton whilst experienced campaigners Matej Zagar and Michael Jepsen Jensen are also back in British Speedway as Brummies’ heat-leaders.
Sheffield: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Josh Pickering, Tai Woffinden R/R, Chris Holder, Danyon Hume, Leon Flint.
Birmingham: Tobiasz Musielak, Jonas Jeppesen, Michael Jepsen Jensen, Keynan Rew, Matej Zagar, Antti Vuolas, Jason Edwards.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.