TAI WOFFINDEN HOPES AUCKLAND CAN KICK-START HIS BID FOR BACK-TO-BACK WORLD TITLES

Speedway World Champion Tai Woffinden is primed and confident he can become only the third rider in history to mount a successful defence of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix title, which opens in Auckland on April 5 with the first round of the 2014 series.
 
The British rider, who defied the bookies as a 500-1 outsider to win the 2013 crown, is relishing the prospect of opening his quest to secure back-to-back title at Western Springs and was not fazed by the thought of playing the role of the hunted rather than the hunter.

“I can't wait, bring it on,” said Tai at a special press call today to help promote the Auckland round of the 2014 FIM SGP. “They say to win a second world title is much harder, but it another challenge for me. Only two riders (Tony Rickardsson of Sweden and Denmark's Nicki Pedersen) have ever defended their SGP titles – it is massive. Last year I trained harder than ever and when I look at the boys (his rivals) on twitter I notice that they too have been training harder than ever during the off-season. I now know I have to train twice as hard.”

“To win a world title is like fitting together a thousands pieces of the puzzle,” says Tai, 23, who was born in the UK but raised in Perth, Australia. “If I fit all those pieces together again, who says I won't win it again?”

Besides the presence of the World Champion in Auckland today the New Zealand wildcard rider was also unveiled before the press at Western Springs Stadium.
For a third straight year, British-born eight-times New Zealand champion Jason Bunyan was awarded the spot, which gives the 34-year-old the mouthwatering opportunity to take on the world's elite riders.

The adopted Kiwi, who has collected one point at each of the two previous editions of the Auckland SGP, described accepting the wildcard spot as “a privilege” and looked forward to receive the backing of the passionate Western Springs crowd on April 5.

“The support is crazy whether that is from the fans or the media,” said Bunyan. “I absolutely love it. It is the coolest event in the world and a lot of that is down to the fans and mentality of the New Zealand people.

“I'd love to win a couple more points this year. The line up is as tough as ever, but I've got elbows as well and I'd love to put some smiles on Kiwi faces.”

Springs Promotions Principal Bill Buckley, the man behind the success of the Auckland event now enjoying
its third year on the FIM SGP calendar, believes that the 2014 edition can be the best yet.

“We are looking forward to the event and hope everyone in Auckland turns out,” he admits. “We are making this a bigger and better show and believe the spectators will enjoy the event starting a little later under lights.

“The event has really helped build momentum for the sport in New Zealand among the younger riders and Jason (Bunyan) has played his part in getting that moving.”

What : FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Where: Western Springs Auckland
When : April 5th 2014
More info:  http://www.speedwaygp.com/