FORMER British Champion Craig Cook is the fifth rider to be confirmed in the Leicester line-up for the 2025 season.
The experienced Cumbrian racer is yet to start a season in Watling JCB Lions colours but has been involved with the club in the last two campaigns, with the more extended spell coming this year.
Cook was showing good consistency at Beaumont Park and was paid for double figures in wins over Belle Vue and Oxford, but he missed out on the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-offs after crashing out in the final regular league fixture against King’s Lynn.
He starts at reserve once again in 2025 on an average of 4.67, discounted to 4.55 for team building purposes, and in fact he will be racing for
Lions boss Stewart Dickson in both leagues next year as he has also agreed a deal to join Championship club Berwick.
Dickson said: “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 (Chris Harris) 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 4.55 with discount, and I know he’s 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’s 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.”
Cook joins captain Max Fricke, Luke Becker, Kyle Howarth and Sam Hagon in the Lions’ 2025 line-up, with news on the final two places expected later this week.
*SUPPORTERS are reminded of the Season Ticket launch day at Beaumont Park on Sunday November 24 (10.30am-1.30pm).
2025 Season Tickets will be available for £253 (adults) and £231 (Over-65s/students), to include all 12 ROWE Motor Oil Premiership home fixtures. (Not including play-offs, KO Cup, challenge matches, Individual/Testimonial meetings, BSPL shared events.)
Season tickets also include a team photograph, a centre green experience and reduced admission of just £6 to Lion Cubs home matches in the National Development League.
They will be on sale from the corporate box (turn three) at the stadium, and payments can be made by cash, card or cheque. A passport sized photo will be required.
Refreshments will also be available as thanks to Pukka Pies we will have a selection of pies and sausage rolls to give away.
For those unable to make it on the day, Season Tickets will launched online from Monday November 25.
