BRITAIN'S first three-time World Champion Tai Woffinden wants to match the six-title record held by Ivan Mauger and Tony Rickardsson after his victory in Torun on Saturday.
Woffinden survived a few scares to finally see off the challenge of his one remaining challenger Bartosz Zmarzlik at the Marian Rose Motoarena. A frightening crash in Heat 11 could have derailed Woffinden's title charge when he slammed into the first bend fence as he battled with Jason Doyle for second place behind Zmarzlik. The rider later revealed he had suffered a broken metatarsal in his foot. Zmarzlik had trimmed Woffinden's lead from 10 points to just three ahead of the Brit's final ride in Heat 20, but Woffinden kept his composure to take the flag and secure a semi-final berth. Needing only one point for the title, he finished second and then won the final for good measure to wrap up a memorable night. At the post-meeting press conference, Woffinden announced that his target now is six world titles. He admitted: "No doubt 100 per cent this is my hardest one to date. After I won my 2013 championship we were sat in a room with Nicki Pedersen, Jason Crump, Greg Hancock and Chris Holder. I mentioned I wanted to break the six-times World Championship record and they all had a laugh amongst themselves."¨ "Now I've done it three-times in six years and I will do it six times. "¨ "The hardest thing is being World Champion but even harder is being World Champion the following year. Because when you've got that target on your back, it's tough. So I've had a few cracks at trying to win in back-to-back and now it's a third time. So hopefully it's third time lucky for me. "But I'll put the work in to give it my best shot next year. "I feel good, just soaking it up. I always say I don't like to start the season good, that's what I did this year and it was tough."¨It's always nice to be behind chasing. This year was the hardest year for me physically and mentally. I'm pretty strong in the head. But there were times when I was sitting there like, "˜man, this is tough'. "It's been an amazing season. I've never doubted my ability. I always know when I bring my A game I can win it. I believe that in my heart. "¨ "That's why I can go out there when the pressure is on and do it."¨I made a mistake in that race with Doyley and had the crash. I think I've broken my metatarsal. I can't move my toes or walk properly. But it all just adds to the story.""¨