CRAIG COOK BACK AT ARMADALE

NEWS Tuesday 11th December 2012, 11:46am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Great news for all Scotwaste Monarchs’ fans – Premier League Riders Champion Craig Cook will be wearing the no. 1 jacket when the 2013 season starts at Armadale.

Craig sorted things out at the weekend with John Campbell and is now preparing for his third season since we signed him from Workington.

Craig said “I’m glad things have been sorted out. John phoned at the weekend and we organised things. With speedway the way it is we have to find a happy medium. I was keen to have everything sorted out by Christmas.

“I have the same pits crew for next season, my dad and Mark. It will be a busy season, we’re ready for that – as long as I don’t have Edinburgh Friday, Eastbourne Saturday and Glasgow Sunday!”

As well as being an outstanding individual rider Cook thrives on team success too, and believes Edinburgh are setting themselves up well for the new season.

“I’m happy that Sam Masters has signed. Sam’s a good rider everywhere, I think he will come really good, he’s got something to prove this year hasn’t he.

“Obviously Joe Tabaka will be really good, he’s an awesome little rider and a steal on his average, and Theo will do his job. He’s really good at home.

“I hope we can complete the team with a couple of good scorers.”

“I’m planning to get myself a personal trainer. I do push myself in training, but I need to be pushed harder.

“I feel like I need to lose weight though if you do that you can sometimes lose strength. I’ll probably stop around 10 and a half stone and if I can get a little more strength I’ll be happy there.

“I think the plan will be to move up to the Elite League full time for 2014, I do want to progress in the sport. If I stayed too long in the Premier League I would probably go stale.”

TEAM SO FAR: Derek Sneddon (captain), Craig Cook, Sam Masters, Theo Pijper, Jozsef Tabaka.