Workington Comets skipper Craig Cook continued his good form with a top-scoring performance for Oxford Spires in the Premiership.
Cook scored 8 plus 2 bonus points as the Spires eventually went down 51-39 against the Belle Vue Aces at the National Speedway Stadium last night.
The final scoreline didn’t tell the full story as two late 5-1s in Heat 13 and 15 saw them finally pull clear.
Ben Cook continued his excellent form in his first season with the club as he scored 13 from five rides, teaming up with west Cumbrian ace Dan Bewley (11+3) for maximum points in the last race.
The Spires were limited to just three race wins but did produce a solid display with Craig Cook scoring 8+2 and Maciej Janowski notching 8+1. Cook had three seconds and two thirds in his five outings.
There was other Workington interest in the fixture with last season’s number one for the Comets Connor Bailey scoring four points, which included a win at reserve for the Acers.
In the Oxford line-up ex-Comet Charles Wright, also a former Belle Vue rider, scored six and a bonus and also had a won on his race-card.
Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “We kept it really close until the end of the meeting, when Belle Vue’s big guns came good. It showed how well we did that I couldn’t put in a tactical substitute until Heat 14.
“In that race, I gave Craig a reserve ride, since he was leading Heat 12 for most of that race and was going strong towards the end of the meeting.
“We kept with them for most of the meeting, because we largely avoided last places. Belle Vue were providing heat winners, while we were finishing second and third. It was a solid performance from us.”
