SPEEDWAY: Another chance for Cook to make World Championships

Craig Cook in action for Panthers. Picture: David Lowndes

The British star has been called up for a semi-final qualifier at Italian track Lonigo on Saturday night (July 3) after Finnish ace Joonas Kylmakorpi was forced to withdraw due to injury.

And Cook is confident he can make his mark on the international stage as he attempts to earn a top-seven finish to advance to the GP Challenge later in the season.

He said: “II’ll go to Italy with a lot of confidence because I’ve had some fantastic results lately.

“I know I’ve got the speed in my bikes and it will just be a case of concentrating on making some good starts.

“I’ve ridden at Lonigo before and hopefully that will stand me in good stead. I really want to make the most of this chance.

“I was unfortunate in my quarter-final at King’s Lynn earlier in the season when my equipment wasn’t right.

“But that’s not a problem now and I’m looking forward to the meeting.”

Cook will travel to Italy by road after racing for his Elite League club, Belle Vue, at King’s Lynn tonight (June 30).

Cook will then dash back in time to take his place in the Panthers team for the second leg of their KO Cup quarter-final tie against Somerset at the East of England Showground on Sunday (5pm).

The city racers face an almost impossible mission after slumping 62-28 in the first leg on Tuesday (June 28).

Cook added: “The meeting at Somerset was a complete disaster and the conditions we were expected to ride in were diabolical.

“The wind was making it very difficult and to be honest, I didn’t feel safe out there on the track.”