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BELLE Vue have beaten off intense competition in the Elite League to sign fast-rising star Craig Cook.The 25-year-old Cumbrian, who won the Premier League Riders Championship this year, has elected to stay with the Aces who gave him extensive top-flight opportunities in 2011 and 2012.Cook said: It was Belle Vue who came for me in 2011 and it was them who came for me again this year. They have showed loyalty to me and thats why I said I will go back again.Ive ridden at the track over the last two years and I'd like to think that in the seasons to come Ill still be with the club. I want to progress and Id love to be the Belle Vue No.1 one day at their new stadium.SPEEDWAY 2
ANDREW Tully has joined Newcastle for the 2012 Premier League season after a lengthy spell with Edinburgh.The Diamonds have named five more team members with Stuart Robson, Ludvig Lindgren, Christian Henry, Richie Worrall and Steve Worrall all returning from this years line-up. Mark Lemon and Claes Nedermark have been released.Club co-director Alan Hedley said: Andrew is a quality racer with good experience. He moved to Newcastle to live a few seasons back and is now thrilled to be at his hometown club and is eager to get the season started.The great news is that we have no less than five of last seasons successful septet back on board for 2013, plus one very exciting addition. They also believe we have another great chance of winning good silverware come 2013 so are all keen to get stuck in for us.SPEEDWAY 3
EDINBURGH have confirmed Theo Pijper as a Monarch for 2013, joining Jozsef Tabaka as a definite starter at Armadale.The Dutchman returned to the club last season after a year with rivals Glasgow, and has also stated his wish to double-up in the Elite League.
Pijper said: I was happy at Edinburgh, I know the track and I know I can score well there every week. The aim of course is to get a little bit better every year, and it helps if the team is good. If the team goes well everyone wants to do well.
Last year I wasnt well in the beginning of the season but as I got better and my bikes were working well, things came good. Its all the people behind the scenes who help too, its not just the rider himself. If your head is clear and theres no pressure it makes it easier to do well.SPEEDWAY 4
BUXTON have announced they will continue to run in the National League next season and veteran Tony Atkin is joining the Hitmen.The Hi-Edge club were looking for an experienced hand after the retirement of Dean Felton and Atkin, who moves from Stoke, fits the bill. He is expected to be joined by several of the 2012 Buxton team.
Promoter Jayne Moss said: Tony has guested for us several times over the last few years and always expressed an interest at joining the team; however, due to rules allowing only one over-thirty in a National League side we have never been able to include him.Then Dean announced his retirement and so we spoke to Tony and he jumped at the chance to move to us from Stoke.
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RICHIE Worrall will make his comeback from injury in Somersets Christmas Cracker individual event on December 28.Worrall has been out since a mid-season leg break denied him his chance in the World Under-21 Championship and the Oaktree Arena event will also include 2012 Somerset riders James Wright and Kyle Newman, along with Richard Hall and Swedish youngster Jacob Thorssell.Meeting co-ordinator Garry May said: The line-up is coming together nicely, in fact with the number of riders who have contacted me to ask for a place in the meeting I think we could have put two meetings on!
We hope to be in a position of being able to announce the final four riders next week together with the finer details of the meeting such as some of the other attractions that will be taking place prior to the meeting itself.
