GREAT Britain have named Craig Cook as their new captain ahead of the 2017 Monster Energy Speedway World Cup.
The Belle Vue and Workington star has been in fine form so far this season and will now lead the Lions into their Event One clash with Australia, USA and Czech Republic at King's Lynn on July 1.
Team boss Alun Rossiter believes Cook, 30, will thrive in the role as they aim to book their place in the final in Leszno on July 8.
Said Rossiter: "With the World Cup coming up we had a tough decision to make, but I'm pleased to name Cookie as captain.
"I could've gone with one of the more experienced guys, but I just feel it's something Craig will thrive on.
"Some people might see it as pressure, but I don't see it like that. I think it will bring out the best in him.
"I've seen Mark Lemon has had faith in him at Belle Vue and that seems to have paid off, so hopefully he can have the same impact for us in the World Cup.
"I've spoken to him about it and I know he's extremely passionate and up for the challenge."
(SPEEDWAY 1)
SCUNTHORPE upset the SGB Championship formbook with a 49-41 win over play-off chasing Sheffield at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday.
The Tigers had won in Lincolnshire earlier in the season and looked to be in a position to repeat that feat when they levelled the scores with a 5-1 in Heat 13 from Josh Grajczonek and Kyle Howarth.
But the Scorpions responded strongly and finished with two maximum advantages of their own, with Ryan Douglas and Tero Aarnio combining in Heat 14 before Josh Auty and Lewis Kerr put the seal on things in the decider.
Kerr scored 12 points for the Scorpions with reserve Aarnio on 8+2, whilst Howarth collected 11 for the Tigers and Grajczonek added 10+1, but the visitors were left without a league point.
Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I’m just relieved. We haven’t beaten a poor side today. We’ve gone and beaten a good side who do very well here.
“Our riders rode really well, they rode like they were in a World Championship. Hopefully, we can get on a roll now and with Stefan Nielsen due back, things are looking much rosier for us.”
Sheffield promoter Damien Bates said: “I’m disappointed to be honest. I feel we should have won at Scunthorpe, we’ve already done it once and we wanted to do the same again.
“To let it slip at the end and leave without any points is disappointing, but we’ll just have to regroup.
“We’ve been riding with a four or five man team, and everyone needs to pull their socks up. I know we’re short at No.7 but the other six need to work together to make sure they all score points.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
PETERBOROUGH’S Simon Lambert crashed out of their 54-38 SGB Championship win over Berwick at the East of England Arena.
Lambert, who has recently rejoined Premiership club King’s Lynn, suffered a suspected broken wrist in a Heat 2 tangle with the Bandits’ Jye Etheridge.
And, with victory already secured, Peterborough were relieved to avoid a further injury setback when Jack Holder was involved in a high-speed Heat 15 smash.
Holder tangled with Berwick number one Nick Morris in the opening bend of the finale, with both men and their motorbikes careering into the fence.
Thankfully they were able to walk away from the spill, but Holder sat out the re-run due to blows to his arm and hip.
New signing Chris Harris top-scored for the Panthers with 12, whilst skipper Ulrich Ostergaard returned to form on 11+2 and Holder scored 11 before his crash. Morris led the way for the Bandits on 12.
Peterborough boss Carl Johnson said: “It was a meeting we simply had to win – and we did it very well.
“This is an important run of home fixtures and getting off to a good start was essential, but losing another rider to injury is a serious blow.
“We don’t seem to be able to catch a break with injuries this year and you have to feel sorry for Simon, who has had more than his fair share of nasty ones in the last few years
“We know Berwick have been struggling this season and that they were without an important rider, but it was the sort of meeting that could easily have got away from us after losing Simon so early on.”
Bandits boss Gary Havelock said: “Peterborough are a tough ask but we had good races too, not least having all six of our guys walk away unharmed especially after Heat 15's horror smash. That was a bad one and it shows the resolve and strength of Nick Morris that he brushed it off and won the re-run.
“David Howe took six points, and while he won his first well he was still suffering a lot of pain after his crash last week, and maybe two tough matches in 24 hours started to take their toll.”
(SPEEDWAY 3)
MILDENHALL advanced to third place in the Travel Plus National League with a 50-40 win at Buxton on Sunday.
The Fen Tigers raced into a 12-point lead after just four races to take control of the meeting, and completed a comfortable victory to collect all four league points.
An injury scare was also averted as although Luke Ruddick crashed out in Heat 10, fears of a broken wrist proved unfounded with the damage limited to burns to his arm.
Reserve Danno Verge picked up 11+2 from five rides with Danny Halsey on 11 and Connor Mountain 10, whilst Liam Carr made a successful guest appearance for the Hitmen with 13 and Tom Woolley scored 11+1.
Mildenhall boss Phil Kirk said: “It was a fine team effort today with all the lads scoring good points.
“The initial prognosis on Luke put a real dampener on the afternoon but thankfully the news received later was much more positive. Luke has become an important part of our team and his first two rides were highly impressive showing the vast strides he has already made this season.
“If we are to achieve our ambitions of making the play-offs we must win at places like Buxton, and the strong spirit amongst the team saw us home when we went down to five fit riders.”
(SPEEDWAY 4)
WOLVERHAMPTON boss Peter Adams will remind his side of their scare on Leicester’s last visit when the sides meet again at Monmore tonight (Monday).
The SGB Premiership leaders edged to a 45-44 win in a tight contest back in April although both clubs have made changes since then.
Adams said: “If ever you needed a reminder not to take things for granted, that meeting was it.
“We anticipate a difficult meeting and it is a case of keeping our eye on the ball, retaining our focus and making sure we take the three points.”
Wolves, who could open up an eight point advantage at the top of the table, expect to welcome back skipper Fredrik Lindgren following his recovery from knee ligament damage.
The Lions operate rider-replacement for the injured Jason Garrity at No.3, and Ellis Perks continues as a guest for reserve Danny Ayres who is also ruled out.
Boss Jim Lynch said: “Without question, they are top of the league on merit and will present a much different challenge to the one we faced in the early part of the season.
“As always, we go there looking to do the best we can but with our injuries it will be tough and our focus has to be on the home matches while having a bit of fun on the away tracks.”
(SPEEDWAY 5)
BIRMINGHAM have booked Mitchell Davey to guest for the absent Jack Parkinson-Blackburn in their National League trip to Kent tonight (Monday).
The Brummies go into back-to-back away matches with the Central Park clash followed quickly by a visit to the Isle of Wight, where their former No.1 Zach Wajtknecht will take over the guest duties.
Kent, who could go above Birmingham in the table with a home win, continue to operate rider-replacement for the injured Luke Clifton.
Brummies boss Graham Drury said: “Mitchell is an outstanding rider at this level and he’ll always be made to feel very welcome by Birmingham supporters after the role he played for us in the 2016 play-off final against Eastbourne.
“To go out and lower the colours of Adam Ellis in heat one of that second leg arguably turned the tie in our favour early on and it’s a heat we will never forget.
“Since joining the National League, we’ve got a terrific record at Central Park, but I think this will be the toughest task we’ve faced in all of our visits there.
“They’re a solid side this year, but there’s a good camaraderie within our group and we’ll be going there and giving it our all, that’s for sure.”
(FIXTURES)
MONDAY JUNE 12:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Wolverhampton v Leicester 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Kent v Birmingham 6.30
TUESDAY JUNE 13:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Birmingham 7pm
WEDNESDAY JUNE 14:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Rye House v Belle Vue 7.30
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: King’s Lynn v Wolverhampton 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 15:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Rye House 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Ipswich v Berwick 7.30, Sheffield v Scunthorpe 7.30
Results Sunday June 11, 2017
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP
Glasgow v Workington – OFF
Newcastle v Edinburgh – OFF
Peterborough 54 – Chris Harris 12
Berwick 38 – Nick Morris 12
Championship points: Peterborough 3 Berwick 0
Scunthorpe 49 – Lewis Kerr 12
Sheffield 41 – Kyle Howarth 11
Championship points: Scunthorpe 3 Sheffield 0
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Buxton 40 – Liam Carr 13
Mildenhall 50 – Danno Verge 11+2
National League points: Buxton 0 Mildenhall 4
BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round 4, Rye House
500cc
1 Daniel Gilkes
2 James Laker
3 Kean Dicken
4 Drew Kemp
250cc
1 Leon Flint
2 Nathan Ablitt
3 Joe Thompson
4 Jason Edwards
125cc
1 Harry McGurk
2 Sam McGurk
3 Corban Pavitt
4 Bailey Fellows
