Tai Woffinden's title rival pulls out of speedway season with injury

One of Tai Woffinden's major rivals for the 2014 world speedway championship has pulled out through injury.

Russian ace Emil Sayfutdinov battled for glory with the Wolves star last year only to be sidelined for the final three Grand Prix of the season after suffering elbow and knee ligament damage in a crash during a league match at Torun, Poland.

The 24-year-old has still not recovered fully and has now stood down from the 2014 GP series, which starts at Auckland, New Zealand on April 5. His place is taken by Australia's Troy Batchelor.