BEN Cook has escaped serious injury following his heavy crash in Thursday night’s ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-off semi-final at Sheffield.
There was concern for the Belle Vue rider, who was taken to hospital after a fall in Heat 10, but posting on social media on Friday morning, Cook said: “After a serious concussion/head knock, all scan results have come back clear, which is a huge relief. I’m feeling a bit second hand today. I just need some time to recover but luckily I’ve escaped injury. I’m hoping to leave hospital later today.” Prior to the loss of Cook, the Aces had put up a strong defence of their 12-point first leg lead and, in fact, led on the night for much of the first half of the meeting. A Tigers 5-1 in the re-run of Heat 10 following Cook’s accident halved the aggregate deficit to six but the Aces held firm in the last five heats, securing a Grand Final match-up against Leicester courtesy of Antti Vuolas’ second place in Heat 14. Aces team manager Mark Lemon said: “The rivalry between us is huge and the boys really dug deep to come out on top. “We knew how tough Sheffield are, they’ve been superb all year and credit to them, and it’s harsh that someone has to lose and their season is over. “But we can fight another day and take on Leicester, and we look forward to that challenge, although my thoughts are with Ben, I hope he’s good. None of us want to see an accident like that.” Sheffield’s Simon Stead said: “It was a good fight and they carried on believing right to the end, so I can’t fault the effort. “We just came up short in some departments and we needed a full one-to-seven doing their bit tonight and it didn’t quite click for whatever reason. “Ultimately we’ve raced over 30 heats and Belle Vue have come out on top, so we have to accept that, build for next year and go again. Well done to Belle Vue.” The first leg of the Grand Final will take place at Belle Vue’s National Speedway Stadium on Monday with the return at Leicester on Thursday (September 26).
PHOTO: left to right, Jake Mulford, Dan Gilkes, Antti Vuolas and Jason Edwards in Heat 2. Picture: CHARLOTTE FLANIGAN
