Cook praises team and fans

The Lakeside Hammers Co Promoter Jon Cook was full of praise for the Essex Club’s fans and riders after a last heat decider saw the team take all three Elite League points in their final League match of the campaign against the Birmingham Brummies on Friday evening at the Arena-Essex Raceway and in so doing reached their 46 League points target.

A delighted Cook stated: “That was one for the fans. They have been absolutely superb this year and their level of support has never dipped even during our lean form of the early season.

“Crowd figures are up for the fifth year running and to get the level of support we enjoyed last night on a rearranged fixture, with England playing football, blew us away.

“The atmosphere created was superb and the reception afforded to Lee (Richardson) and JD (Jonas Davidsson) on their extra lap of honour after Heat 15 sent all the team and our hardworking backroom staff away absolutely buzzing.”

Cook also paid tribute to the team saying: “At the end of the match we had a chat and it’s only Lee, Peter (Ljung) and Rob (Mear) left from the seven who started the season with us yet the spirit is electric.

Picture: Tomasz Jedrzejak

“It’s out of our hands now as to whether we make the Play Offs but if we do and with Robbo (Stuart Robson) back and TJ (Tomasz Jedrzejak) making our numbers up to the full team of seven riders, plus Kakke (Kauko Nieminen) back in for selection, we will give it one hell of a go and with the Cup Semi Final to come regardless of the Play Offs the season is coming alive at just the right time”.

Cook confirmed to the big crowd during the introduction of riders prior to the opening heat that Tomasz Jedrzejak would be rejoining the Club for the remainder of the season. Jedrzejak holds a special place in Hammers recent history having joined an injury ravaged team at the end of the 2008 season and scoring a maximum on his debut against Wolverhampton and then passing a double points riding Leigh Adams in the Play Off Semi Final against Swindon to all but book the team’s spot in it’s first and, to date, only Play Off Final appearance.

Main Picture: The victorious Lakeside Hammers – Lakeside Hammers vs Birmingham Brummies, Elite League Speedway at the Arena Essex Raceway, Purfleet – 02/09/11 – (Rob Newell/TGSPHOTO)