British Champion Craig Cook has big ambitions for Belle Vue’s 2018 Premiership season after confirming his return to the world-famous Aces for his eighth year in their iconic colours.
The 30-year old has made no secret of his desire to return to the club, passionately tweeting after the end-of-season celebrations that he “hopes to continuously do so for years to come.”
He becomes the third to put pen to paper for this season’s Aces septet and will take up full-time residence at the National Speedway Stadium after relinquishing his duties in the Championship.
The move has also paved the way for Cook to take the plunge into international racing with a spot in Polish First Division side Rybnik alongside his permanent berth in the 2018 Grand Prix series.
He said: “It fills me with such a sense of pride to ride for an historic club like Belle Vue and I’m over the moon to be back with the Aces next year; I can’t describe how pleased I was to receive the call.
“With the new rules governing team averages I wasn’t sure I’d be the one coming back and that’s given me extra incentive to work even harder and push my boundaries beyond my comfort zone.
“There are so many new opportunities ahead that I’m determined to make the most of, and I want now more than ever to see Belle Vue build on the successes of last year to go one better in 2018.
“I’m already looking forward to getting back on the bike. I don’t yet feel I’ve performed to my fullest potential, something which I’m determined to show in the Premiership, in Poland and in the GPs.”
To date, Belle Vue have named Cook alongside fellow Aces Steve Worrall and the newly-crowned Australian Champion, Rohan Tungate, with their first Colts announcement coming January 19.
Words: Hayley Bromley
Images: Ian Charles
