BRTISH Final runner-up Craig Cook insists his time will come after going agonisingly close to the national title at Wolverhampton on Monday.Cook was the leader in the Final when the race was stopped after Jason Garrity came to grief, and in the re-run Tai Woffinden swept to the title whilst Cook’s second place gave him the consolation of a Wild Card for the British Grand Prix at Cardiff.Cook said: “I just couldn’t believe my luck, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. You win some and you lose some, but let’s be honest having the opportunity to race at Cardiff is a fantastic consolation prize.“If I ride like that for the rest of my season, as long as I iron out my gating, who’s to say I can’t max out in every meeting? My time at the top will come. I've worked too hard for too long for it not to.”
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THE Elite League resumes on Wednesday after the World Cup break with the top two teams meeting at Wimborne Road.Poole and Coventry clash for the fourth time this season, with all previous encounters in 2015 having ended in away wins.Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “Coventry have shown us what they are capable of doing and we will have to respect them but not fear them. We want to remain at the top of the table. “It is our goal this year to defend the league title we have held for the past two seasons and whilst there is still much to achieve this season, it is very encouraging for me that we are where we are when you consider that individual riders have endured their own personal ups and downs along the way.”Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “It’s going to be spicy to say the least, and the boys will go down there and give it their very best as usual. They know they’re capable of winning there, and I think if there’s any team Poole would fear it would be Coventry.“We went there and won last time, so the boys will be up for it and we certainly want to come away with something. It’s the same focus for every away meeting, and we have been awesome away so far this season.”Belle Vue race their first home match for five weeks as Wolverhampton make the trip up the M6 to Kirkmanshulme Lane - and Aces’ CEO Chris Morton hopes the lengthy break from racing in Manchester will not have a detrimental effect on a previous good run of form from his side.Both sides are at full strength with Max Fricke available for the Aces after his Danish fixture was postponed, whilst Tobiasz Musielak returns from injury for Wolves.Morton said: “they’re well into their racing, both here and on the continent in some cases, so hopefully by the time Wednesday rolls around everyone will be feeling sharp and ready to go.“Wolverhampton certainly are a force to be reckoned with and have some very capable riders. They do get around Belle Vue quite well so we’re going to really have to be on our toes.”Wolves No.1 Freddie Lindgren said: “Belle Vue is an important meeting for us and is one we need to get some points out of. Reaching the play-offs is our first goal and we need to make sure we get things right in the second part of this season.“I'm feeling great after the World Cup win with Sweden and hopefully I can use my confidence from that final to get me back on track for Wolverhampton.”Birmingham race their first home fixture since winning the National League Fours when they host Coventry - who they edged out in a run-off on Sunday - at Perry Barr.The Brummies could return to the top of the table with a win, whilst the Storm have scored in all of their away matches so far, although they operate rider-replacement for injured captain Luke Crang.Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “Coventry are in just as good form as ourselves and it promises to be one of the meetings of the year so far. They find themselves towards the top of the table – and they’re still to race a home match!“We really want to use Sunday’s Fours victory to help us kick on and extend our winning run. It’s going to take another big team effort though because Coventry have picked up at least one league point in each of their meetings so far.”Storm boss Laurence Rogers said: “We still feel we can get something from the meeting, and we need to keep up our away record although Crangy being out is a blow.“We’ll be trying to push Birmingham as much as possible, and I feel the key riders could be Rob (Shuttleworth) and also Marty (Martin Knuckey) at reserve.” Another local derby takes place at the Norfolk Arena with King’s Lynn hosting Mildenhall, with the home side bringing in Kyle Hughes to guest for the injured James Cockle, who suffered a shoulder injury in the Fours.Young Stars boss Dale Allitt said: “Losing James is a blow for us, he has been great this season so Wednesday will be hard. Having said that, Kyle can do a good job for us, he knows this place well and I believe he can score some good points against them.“We haven’t raced at home for a couple of weeks, but the boys are fresh, ready to race and want a win.”
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LAKESIDE have recalled Ashley Birks in place of the injured Steve Boxall.The Hammers expect Birks to return for their home Elite League meeting against King's Lynn this Friday.Co-Promoter Jon Cook said: “It's the right time for Ash and us to get reacquainted. He was a popular member of the team at the start of the season, his form is revitalised now and it's the perfect time for him to come back in.“My thanks go to Stevie for his efforts, which were blighted badly by a shoulder injury and whilst he would be happy to ride through the pain barrier, and did for us, now’s not the time.”
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GLASGOW have moved to sign David Howe in place of Kozza Smith, with the Australian’s season ended through injury. Former British Under-21 Champion Howe is expected to make his debut in the Tigers' trip to his former club Scunthorpe this Friday.Glasgow boss Stewart Dickson said: “We needed to get back to seven riders, that's always been the target.“The fact that we managed to get David was excellent and he has texted me to say he's looking forward to the new challenge - he thinks it'll give him a new lease of life and he's looking to kick on.He thinks he can challenge for the heat leader spots, which I think he can do.”
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EASTBOURNE have a concern over Bradley Wilson-Dean after his crash in the National League Fours on Sunday.Wilson-Dean came to grief after the race had already been stopped, and although he was able to continue in the meeting after treatment a subsequent hospital visit due to abdominal pains revealed some internal bleeding.Eagles chairman Martin Dugard said: “Brad is sore but feels OK in himself. He had a guest booking for Rye House at Kent (on Monday) and he is more upset about not being able to ride than being hurt.”
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WEDNESDAY JUNE 17:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30, Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 8pmCITY GEARBOXES NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Coventry 7.30, King’s Lynn v Mildenhall 7.30
THURSDAY JUNE 18:ELITE LEAGUE: Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Ipswich v Somerset 7.30, Sheffield v Newcastle 7.30TRAVEL PLUS TOURS KO CUP 1st round 2nd leg: Plymouth v Peterborough 7.15JULIE LEWIS MEMORIAL: Redcar 7.30
FRIDAY JUNE 19:ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Leicester 7.30, Lakeside v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Redcar 7.30, Scunthorpe v Glasgow 7.30, Somerset v Workington 7.30
