GREAT Britain skipper Craig Cook capped off a memorable week by qualifying for the Grand Prix Challenge.
Cook, who was named as captain of Team GB on Monday, stormed to the top of the rostrum in his Grand Prix Qualification Semi-Final in Teranzano in Italy on Saturday night.
The Belle Vue and Workington ace saw off a number of big names, including current Grand Prix stars Patryk Dudek and Matej Zagar, to come out on top with 13 points.
The result means he will now head to Togliatti, Russia on Saturday, August 19 knowing a top three finish would earn him a full-time spot in the 2018 Grand Prix series - and a delighted Cook admits he is now relishing the biggest meeting of his career.
“I’m delighted,” Cook said. “I didn’t really know what to expect, especially with it probably being the tougher of the two semi-finals.
“I’m just taking it one step at a time and this is another step out of the way. I’m five races away from being a Grand Prix rider, so I’m really pleased with the result.
“Anything is possible now. I’m confident and enjoying my speedway, but at the same time I know things can change pretty quickly.
“I won’t get too excited, I’ll save that for if I qualify in Togliatti, but I’m pleased to get through to the Grand Prix Challenge and I’m already looking forward to trying to make that top three.”
2018 GRAND PRIX QUALIFIER, SEMI-FINAL: Craig Cook 13 (1st), Vaclav Milik 12 (2nd), Matej Zagar 10 (3rd after run-off), Przemyslaw Pawlicki 10, Peter Kildemand 9, Max Fricke 9, Patryk Dudek 8 (all seven qualify for Grand Prix Challenge), Michael Jepsen Jensen 8, Linus Sundstrom 7, Kevin Wolbert 7, Jurica Pavlic 7, Grigory Laguta 6, Pontus Aspgren 5, Dany Gappmaier 5, Paco Castagna 2 (reserve), Matej Kus 1, Daniele Tessari 1 (reserve), Guglielmo Franchetti 0.
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UPCOMING FIXTURES...
24/06/17 1900 Berwick v Redcar (SGBC)
24/06/17 1900 Glasgow v Ipswich (SGBC)
24/06/17 1900 Stoke v Eastbourne (TPNL)
25/06/17 1700 Peterborough v Glasgow (SGBC)
25/06/17 1730 Scunthorpe v Berwick (SGBC) 25/06/17 1300 Workington v Newcastle (C-KOC)
25/06/17 1930 Newcastle v Workington (C-KOC)
25/06/17 1500 Buxton v Eastbourne (TPNL)
25/06/17 1500 Lakeside v Isle of Wight (TPNL)
25/06/17 1500 Mildenhall v USA Dream Team v GB Lions U21 v Norwich Stars (4TT)
26/06/17 1930 Poole v Belle Vue (SGBP)
26/06/17 1930 Wolverhampton v King's Lynn (P-KOC)
26/06/17 1830 Kent v Kent Kestrels v USA Dream Team v Lakeside (4TT)
27/06/17 1900 Isle of Wight v Cradley (TPNL)
28/06/17 1930 Belle Vue v King's Lynn (SGBP) 28/06/17 1930 Birmingham v Plymouth (NLKOC)
29/06/17 1930 Swindon v Wolverhampton (SGBP) 29/06/17 1930 Sheffield v Redcar (SGBC)
Poole 52 (Hans Andersen 12) Leicester 40 (Danny King 13+1) SGB Premiership points: Poole 3 Leicester 0
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE Birmingham 46 (Tom Bacon 12) Lakeside 44 (Zach Wajtknecht 15) National League points: Birmingham 3 Lakeside 1
MONDAY JUNE 19:
BRITISH FINAL, Belle Vue 1 Craig Cook (Belle Vue/Workington) 2 Steve Worrall (Belle Vue/ Newcastle) 3 Rory Schlein (Wolverhampton/Ipswich) 4 Ben Barker (Redcar)
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE Cradley 47 (Tom Perry 11) Kent 37 (Luke Bowen 10) Abandoned after 14 heats - Curfew - RESULT STANDS National League points: Cradley 3 Kent 0
