Cook hoping Monarchs stint can aid his Elite bid

Despite making the transition from moto-cross to speedway in less than three years, the young Englishman, who joined Edinburgh Monarchs on a full transfer from Workington Comets over the winter, is already training his sights on a possible permanent move into the Elite League in 2012.

He already doubles up with Belle Vue Aces in the upper tier and scored nine for them against Swindon on Monday, but he remains aware if he fails to flourish in the Premier League with Monarchs this season his undisguised ambition could go unfulfilled. Yet the signs so far are promising for Cook, who faces Redcar Bears at Armadale tonight in what signals the start of the team's league programme of 38 matches. Cook has notched up almost 30 points for Monarchs in his opening three meetings and insists much better is to come. He said: "I think my performances have been excellent to date, although I felt a bit silly when I fell off against Newcastle at home in my first match, but it was only a challenge match. I believe I can increase my average for Monarchs and I'll be happy if I push my figure to over eight by the end of the season. My gating isn't dialled in yet, I'm such a good gater but it doesn't seem to be happening for me at the moment. I'm trying different things to improve it and once my gating comes back I don't think anybody will pass me round Armadale."

Cook's switch to Monarchs came out of the blue because no one seriously believed Workington would let him go. However, he says it was imperative he left Derwent Park for the sake of his career. "I didn't enjoy my final season at Workington because I got messed about by them. I was also promised certain things which didn't happen - that's all I really want to say, it's in the past now. Joining Monarchs has been great because this is going to be a very important season for me and the environment at Armadale and the team spirit we have already in the pits is lifting everybody. If I continue to do well for Belle Vue over the coming months, then I might just do Elite League only next year and maybe Poland and Sweden."

The visit of a revamped Redcar team will provide Monarchs with a tricky test. The Bears retained just two of their 2010 squad, snapping up Jason Lyons from Birmingham as well as ex-Monarch Aaron Summers, who rode for the Redcar Cubs junior side in 2008. But their star signing could turn out to be Czech star Matej Kus, who stormed to a brilliant 15 points at Berwick Bandits last weekend as the Teessiders lost 48-44. Bears boss Brian Havelock says winning at home could be the key to success this season. "We have certainly got to start winning our home matches on a regular basis, because so many teams in the Premier League look evenly balanced this year, and I don't think there will be many away wins. I think Monarchs will be up there again - it's always tough for us at Armadale."

Monarchs also visit Berwick tomorrow and Cook added: "Redcar will be an interesting match because they have totally changed their team from a year ago, and I think we can do a job at Berwick, I rode there a fortnight ago in the Adrian Rymel Testimonial meeting and managed to beat past Bandit Josef Franc and Michel Makovsky who still rides for them this year. If we can begin our campaign with two wins that would be perfect."