Cook blast after Lakeside Hammers defeat (From Thurrock Gazette)

Cook blast after Lakeside Hammers defeat

8:00am Friday 24th August 2012 in Sport

FOLLOWING Monday night’s away defeat at Coventry, Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook has ordered half his team in for extra practise ahead of today’s (Friday) crucial home meeting with Peterborough.

This encounter will see Hammers play-off homes sunk if they register anything but a win.

Hammers Swedish rider Jonas Davidsson may be unlikely to race for the club again this season following a third consecutive meeting where he failed to beat an opponent. The dip in form has raised question marks over his fitness.

Cook commented: “We have two riders primed and ready to come in. “But they can’t race until next week when they will know whether they are available for all our remaining fixtures.

“In the meanwhile we have to deliver on Friday against the Panthers. It has now become the most important meeting of the year.

“I know our fans are rightly angry and frustrated, but we need them to really get behind the boys this week in true Hammers style.

“Now is not the time to turn their backs, it’s the toughest year any club could face and this dramatic loss of form has come out of the blue.”

Speaking about Davidsson, Cook said: “Clearly something is not right. “It’s only ten days since he scored 9pts for us at home against Birmingham and I have never seen anything like this for loss of form in my 20 years of promoting.

“He needs to get to the bottom of it and not be remembered in this way after volunteering his services to the club he loves, in our hour of need.”

Hammers take on The Panthers today (Friday) at the Arena Essex Raceway, with a rider parade at 7.45 and first race scheduled for 8pm. Tickets are available at the pay booths on the night, or can be purchased in advance via the clubs on-line ticket store.