IN-FORM Belle Vue and Workington star Craig Cook has been crowned British Champion for the first time.
Cook took the title on his Premiership home track on Monday night and as a result will be the wild card for the British Grand Prix in Cardiff next month. The Cumbrian capped a memorable three-day spell following his GP qualifying semi-final victory in Italy on Saturday by topping the scorechart at the National Speedway Stadium on 14, dropping his only point to Lewis Kerr. That earned him a direct passage to the final alongside Aces team-mate Steve Worrall. Ben Barker and Rory Schlein knocked out Scott Nicholls and defending champion Danny King in the semi-final to join Cook and Worrall in the decider. It was Worrall who made the gate and led for the first lap, but Cook went past at the start of the second circuit and pulled clear to win. "¢ Don't miss this week's Speedway Star for full British Final coverage.
BELLE VUE: BRITISH FINAL Scorers: Craig Cook 14, Steve Worrall 11, Ben Barker 11, Rory Schlein 10, Danny King 10, Scott Nicholls 10, Richie Worrall 9, Chris Harris 9, Richard Lawson 9, Paul Starke 6, Lewis Kerr 5, Lewis Rose 5, Kyle Howarth 4, Stuart Robson 4, Jason Garrity 3, Carl Wilkinson 0, Jack Smith (res) 0, Andy Mellish (res) 0. Semi-final: Barker, Schlein, Nicholls, King. Grand Final: Cook, S.Worrall, Schlein, Barker.