In case you missed it see what’s in this section
We recommend
Let's Talk
Your Total Guide To sport
Examining the GB candidates ahead of the Speedway World Cup final
Following Danny King’s success in winning the British final at Belle Vue’s National stadium on Monday evening, and with the Speedway World Cup final waiting just around the corner, we took a look at six riders who will be in Alun Rossiter’s thoughts for those prestigious four places within Team GB.
Tai Woffinden
The two-time Speedway World champion and Britain’s brightest star Tai Woffinden is the only rider who has already guaranteed his place in Rossiter’s Team GB and will most likely lead the line as Captain when Great Britain attempt to gain eternal Speedway glory at the Speedway World Cup final. Last winning the World Championships in 2015 for the second time in his career, Woffinden has started this year’s Grand Prix campaign where he previously left off, winning the Warsaw GP and making all three finals out of the three GP’s so far this year. A fantastic rider Team GB have in Tai Woffinden and one who will hopefully continue his Speedway dominance when riding in Britain’s colours.
Craig Cook
Since his introduction into British Speedway back in 2008 whilst riding for the Buxton Hitmen, Cook has had a rapid rise throughout British Speedway, riding in the 2014 and 2015 British Speedway GP’s and part of the Great Britain team that finished fourth in the 2014 Speedway World Cup. Riding for the Belle Vue Aces since 2011 Craig Cook is one of the Manchester clubs and Britain’s best riders and a second place finish in the British Championships on Monday evening will have him firmly in the thoughts of Team GB manager, Alun Rossiter. With the World Cup final being held at Belle Vue’s new National Stadium, it would be a wise move to have someone like Cook who knows the track already in the squad.
Danny King
Your new 2016 British Speedway champion and what a thrilling night of Speedway action it was from the twenty-nine year old Coventry Bee’s rider. An underachieving performance for King whilst racing for Team GB last year saw many not even consider the Maidstone born rider as a possible figure within the 2016 squad, however winning the British title has saw him force his way into the spotlight of Alun Rossiter’s thoughts. His achievement on Monday evening saw that King can more than hold his own riding at the National stadium, but his problems with consistency at League level may cost the British champion his place in the side.
Robert Lambert
The eighteen-year old English rider is arguably one of the most exciting talents in World Speedway, who is highly respected by some of the very best riders around the globe. A fantastic 2015 season saw Lambert feature as a surprise inclusion in Rossiter’s 2015 Team GB and put in some impressive performances, but the question was always going to be whether Robert Lambert could carry on this form into the New Year. An awkward start to the 2016 season saw Lambert fail to regularly score the high-end points that we all know he can, but as the Norwich born rider got more meetings under his belt, his confidence grew and so did his points totals. Riding as one of the three heat leaders within the King’s Lynn Stars Elite League side Lambert has proved that he can compete with some of the best and I’m sure he would be a fantastic inclusion to Team GB.
Steve Worrall
Very much the surprise inclusion in the list and is one of the outsiders to make the squad, but given his impressive performances for the Belle Vue Aces so far this season and after riding to the final of the British championship, Steve Worrall deserves to be considered for a place within Team GB. At the age of just twenty-four, the Steve side of the Worrall brothers has years of Speedway riding ahead of him but a chance at riding on the grand stage of the Speedway World Cup final could pay dividends for his career, however the worry is that it might just be too big a risk to take for Alun Rossiter when there is so much on the line.
Scott Nicholls
At the age of thirty-eight, Scott Nicholls would be the oldest rider within Team GB should he be picked. With six Britain Championships to his name and a wealth of riding knowledge behind himself, whether it’s on the Grand Prix stage or representing Great Britain in previous World Cups, Nicholls has proved that he has bags of talent and on his day can beat anyone. However a mixed season so far riding for the Belle Vue Aces has seen some question whether Nicholls is past his best. Nicholls has the upper hand of knowing the ins and outs of the National Stadium but can he do the job in the Team GB jersey? Only time will tell.
Weather in Swindon
Listings