Tai Woffinden rides speedway bike for first time since crash

Three-time world champion Tai Woffinden has ridden a speedway bike for the first time after a serious crash in Poland.

The 34-year-old, from Scunthorpe, was placed into a medically induced coma in March after he hit a fence behind a protective barrier during a race.

In a video posted to social media, Woffinden is shown at an empty Olympic Stadium, Wroclaw, before riding around the track.

The Sheffield Tigers’ rider wrote: “The last four months have been the biggest challenge of my life, but like I do with everything, I get knocked down, get straight back up and keep on charging.”

The return to the bike came four weeks after Woffinden admitted he was unsure if he would ride again.

Woffinden was airlifted to hospital, underwent surgery and was placed into a medically induced coma after a crash involving his Rzeszow teammate on 30 March.

He later revealed he had suffered a double break in his right leg, a broken back, broken shoulder, multiple broken ribs, a punctured lung, fractured arm and extensive blood loss.

Woffinden is Great Britain’s most decorated rider after winning Grand Prix world titles in 2013, 2015 and 2018. He also finished runner-up in 2016 and 2020.