King’s Lynn manager Rob Lyon has voiced his support for Stars racer Ben Cook who is currently serving a 28-day ban from UK racing.
Cook’s problems date back to the badly broken wrist he suffered in a crash at the Adrian Flux Arena in mid-April, which put him out of action for two months.
After extensive treatment in Poland he recommenced racing in that country, but when he rejoined the Stars and raced at Birmingham recently, the injury flared up once more in tough, bumpy track conditions.
Cook subsequently confirmed he intended to take a further break from Premiership racing, while continuing to ride in Poland, but does want to come back for the run-in here.
In the eyes of the authorities, a rider cannot be seen to be picking and choosing where he races regardless of the circumstances.
So, Cook is now not permitted to appear in the UK until mid-August even had he felt able to.
Lyon said: “It’s a difficult situation. Ben is an honest lad, he’s a genuine rider who’s here to earn a living, and to earn as much as he can.
“He wants to ride, he wants to race in the UK all the time, but in reality he’s probably two months ahead of schedule on the injury.
“The Poles without a doubt have supported him with rehab and obviously have people with him all the time during the meetings that he’s been back at since the injury, in between races.
“It’s something that we unfortunately are not able to support as British Speedway, and it’s that which gets him through.
“Obviously the Polish tracks, as many people that are involved in the sport are fully aware, are generally slicker, wider, bigger, and the bike is easier to ride, and that’s certainly the case for Ben.
“The British tracks are more difficult to ride, and we saw that at Birmingham where he struggled and his wrist just swelled up like you wouldn’t believe after his second ride and he had to pull out.
“He doesn’t feel he’s ready and confident to tackle those tracks in England at the moment.
“It is a difficult one to get your head around and I can understand people being the way they are and their reaction, but in reality he shouldn’t really be riding at all.
“He’s done so well to get back so early, but it’s probably an eight-month injury recovery really.
“He has to try and do the best for him as much as for his clubs.
“He will be back racing for King’s Lynn hopefully at some point during August, and there will be quite a few fixtures for him to fulfil.”
Stars are back at home on Monday when they face Belle Vue with their outside play-off hopes still alive thanks to this week’s stirring win over Ipswich.
That remarkable victory was achieved without both Cook and Niels-Kristian Iversen, who has been out with rib damage.