B Steve Worrall admits he likes the quiet life as he starts a new chapter following 15 years of agony and ecstasy. By PHIL LANNING

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ONE BREAKS, bubbly and heartbreaks.

It’s now almost 15 years since Steve Worrall first swapped motocross for speedway. That time has been little short of a white knuckle ride rollercoaster of emotions.

Two badly broken legs have been punctuated by a plethora of glory with 10 domestic trophies. But on the individual front, it’s been a case of so near but so far with two British Championship runner-up placings and also silver in the British Under-21 title and National League Riders’ Championship.

But Worrall, 32, has the perfect unflappable temperament to deal with the rigours of red-hot racing. In amongst all the thrills

and spills, there’s no frills.

He is rarely a headline-grabber, and likes to stay under the radar in the sporting mould of Paul Scholes, Andy Murray or James Milner-type characters.

This St. Helens-born twin oozes

professionalism but certainly avoids

the limelight.

However, with the 2024 season fast approaching, Worrall admits he is

completely out of his comfort zone. He’s starting

afresh with two new clubs, in the Sports Insure Premiership with Birmingham and Glasgow in the Cab Direct Championship. Typically, though, he’s taking it in his stride. I caught up with him while he was sunning himself with a short family break in Dubai earlier this week.

Worrall revealed that he feels a little underrated, still has a hunger to reach the top and that the broken leg injuries have been a huge hurdle mentally and physically to recover from.

He said: “Obviously I do look at it myself and there’s a lot of things I’ve achieved that not a lot of other British riders have.

“I just like going about my business quietly. I turn up, get my head down, do my job. I don’t like making a fuss or causing a scene. I just plod along.

“It gets noticed by some people. But I don’t have to go shouting from the rooftops.

“As I’m getting older, I’m getting a little bit wiser to different things about what goes on in life and in the sport.

“I’m growing a bit of a backbone I would say. I am becoming a bit more stubborn.

“It all depends on your character. Maybe if I was more open and out there and used my mouth a bit more, I might be a bit higher up. But you can’t change who you are, you can’t fake it, that’s just me.”

AFTER two years at Wolves and three at Poole, Worrall now embarks on fresh territory at Birmingham and Glasgow.

Both will be demanding challenges with the Brummies facing a tough baptism in the Premiership and the Tigers defending the Championship title.

Worrall is well aware of what is ahead, adding: “I like being settled. In the past, I’ve never really swapped around much.

WORR AND PE

2 speedway star February 17, 2024