Former Speedway GP star Craig Cook is back with Rowe Motor Oil Premiership side Leicester in 2025, and boss Stewart Dickson says he will ensure the Lions have plenty in reserve.
The former British champion lines up in one of the reserve berths; potentially offering Leicester a real sting in the tail as he will be able to take up to seven rides per match.
Triple British champion Chris Harris is expected to be a trump card for King’s Lynn as he takes on a reserve role at the Adrian Flux Arena, and Dickson backs Cook to have a similar impact at Leicester.
He told the Lions’ official website: “We know Craig is comfortable around Leicester. He likes the track and the way it’s set up, and we just need to find him a bit more consistency.
“People are looking at King’s Lynn with Bomber at reserve, but for us with Craig Cook at reserve, he should be every bit as good as the other riders who are in that position
“He comes in on a 4.55 average with discount, and I know he has been sitting around that in the Premiership for a couple of years now. But he should be looking to get a six-point average.
“When we discussed it as a management team, we looked at his last matches at home before he got injured, and against Oxford for example, he got paid 10, which included an engine failure when he was on a paid second. No disrespect to the reserves in the Grand Final, but we struggled to replace that.
“We’ve sussed out the way each other works, and he likes a bit of calmness before a race. I give different instructions to different riders before races, and a manager has to find the way to get the best out of everyone.
“He has been as good as gold with me, and I’m quite happy to offer him the reserve spot. He knows that for us to be able to win matches, he has to score points.”