TIGERS TARGET TITLE REPEAT

SHEFFIELD get their title defence underway later this week – and co-promoter Damien Bates feels they’ve given themselves the best chance possible to retain their crown.

The Tigers head to Oxford for their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership opener on Thursday (March 21) in their first league fixture since lifting the top-flight trophy last October.

They track a familiar line-up led by Grand Prix duo Jack Holder and Tai Woffinden, and with former World Champion Chris Holder also included as third heat-leader.

Bates said: “It’s one of the easiest teams I’ve ever managed to put together.

“It was all done, sorted and sealed so early as well and I’m more than happy with the seven riders we’ve got at Sheffield again this year.

“With a top five like we’ve got, we’ll always have a chance of winning meetings and that takes a bit of pressure off the two reserves but as we saw last year, they are already at a stage where they can score points at this level.”