Workington Comets skipper Craig Cook is changing Premiership clubs as he has returned to Leicester Lions.
Cook had been with Oxford Spires on a 28-day facility, covering for an injury to Lewis Kerr, but with the popular reserve returning Leicester have moved to take him back.
Following last night’s 54-36 win over Oxford, Leicester said that Cook will be returning to the club in place of Drew Kemp.
He had been with Leicester last season before taking a break from the sport.
Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “Craig has been in good form this season. He’s up to almost a nine-point average again in the Championship, and you don’t get that sort of average if you’re not racing well.
“I know speedway meetings aren’t won on paper, but being able to bring him in at reserve could be the catalyst for our season taking off
“Monday night was good but it was only one meeting, and Craig could provide us with the scoring power that we’re looking for at that end of the team.”
Ironically it wasn’t one of Cook’s best meetings of the season at Leicester as he just picked-up four points and a bonus from a second, two thirds and a fall.
Meanwhile Workington team manager James Denham has been reflecting on Cook’s performance in the Comets win at the weekend.
He says he always had faith in skipper Cook to do the job and secure a narrow victory over Oxford in a thriller at the GT Tyres Arena.
Denham said: “We had to dig deep in the end but I knew that putting Cookie in Heat 15 he would produce the goods and get us the win, and so it proved.
“Credit to Oxford for putting up a worthy fight, it created a thrilling end to the match with some sensational racing.
“We’ve got a couple of weeks off now before our home match against Plymouth and most of our riders will be riding elsewhere, whether it’s on the continent or in the Premiership, which is important for them in a period of downtime to keep race fit and be ready to go once again.”
Meanwhile Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said there was plenty to take from the 46-44 defeat at Workington where his side nearly completed a dramatic late comeback.
Schroeck said: “It’s a long drive home from Workington. Some highly fancied teams have had to do that this year after being battered, but we can drive away with our heads held high, because very few teams will get that close here this year.
“I believe the Cheetahs are really coming together as a team. This was our strongest away performance of the season and everything is moving in the right direction.”
