WOFFY SITS OUT SON FINALS

World champion Tai Woffinden has confirmed he won't be fit to spearhead Great Britain's FIM Speedway of Nations title bid in Togliatti on July 20 and 21.

Woffinden has been sidelined with a fractured TH4 vertebra and broken shoulder blade since crashing in Poland early last month.

Despite intense rehabilitation efforts, Woffinden has been unable to make it back in time to lead the Lions, who hope to improve on the silver medal they won in Wroclaw last summer.

He's set to spend at least another month on the sidelines, with the Betard Wroclaw SGP on August 3 at his PGE Ekstraliga home track his next big international date.

Speaking to GBSpeedwayTeam.com, he said: "My neck still isn’t healed and I need longer to get everything back to how it should be. 

"I’m working really hard. I’m probably busier now with all the treatment than I am when I’m racing, but I need another four to five weeks before considering coming back.

“I am gutted that, as well as missing some important matches for my league teams, I won’t be able to race for Great Britain in the Speedway of Nations later this month. 

"I was desperate to play my part to try and push us one further than last year but it’s not possible. 

“I will be watching the boys and cheering them on. I know whoever heads out to Russia will give it everything and I would love to see them come back with a big result. 

"For now, I’m just focusing on getting back healthy again and trying to have a big end to the season.”

Craig Cook and Robert Lambert joined Woffinden in the GB side that won Race Off 2 in Manchester on May 11.

Former SGP star Chris Harris and Dan Bewley are also in the Lions squad and are available to replace Woffinden.

Picture: Taylor Lanning