US Edition
Tai Woffinden wins third world speedway title to become most successful Briton ever
Tai Woffinden rode into the record books as Britain's most-crowned world speedway champion on Saturday night then declared he would equal the all-time record.
Victory in the final round of the grand prix season in Torun, Poland, ensured Woffinden's third world title, surpassing the doubleSPEEDWAY glories of Freddie Williams and Peter Craven.
Now Woffinden has set his sights on emulating speedway icons Ivan Mauger and Tony Rickardsson, who both won the sport's ultimate prize six times.
Woffinden said: "After I won my 2013 championship I was sitting in a room with (former world champions) Nicki Pedersen, Jason Crump, Greg Hancock and Chris Holder.
"I mentioned that I wanted to break the six-time world champion record. They kind of had a little laugh between them. But now I've done it three times in six years, and I will do it six times."
At the age of 28, Woffinden is entering his peak years and few would doubt that more world titles will come his way, especially after a controlled 2018 campaign always looked set to end with the big prize.
Woffinden took a 10-point advantage into Saturday's final round and emerged with his lead intact after nearest challenger, Poland's Bartosz Zmarzlik, was unable to capitalise on home nation advantage.
Zmarzlik, who is likely to pose the biggest threat to Woffinden's hegemony over the next few years, took silver with Sweden's Fredrik Lindgren third, a full 30 points behind Woffinden.
Woffinden, who won his previous world titles in 2013 and 2015, said: "I always say I don't like to start the season well but that is exactly what I did this year. It's nice to be behind, chasing so this was the hardest year for me physically and mentally.
"I'm pretty strong in the head but there were times when I was thinking 'wow, man, this is tough.' One hundred per cent this was my hardest one to date."