Speedway: Cook shows early hot form

Speedway

Gisborne saloon driver Ethan Cook promised fans before last night's speedway meeting at Meeanee it was going to be a beauty for him and he delivered.

Cook displayed the benefits of some earlier visits to Meeanee this season with a sensational drive in his first heat of the third round in the 21-car Valvoline Speedweek Series. Cook won the 14-car heat from grid eight snatching the victory on the finish line from series defending champion Chris Cowling of Mount Maunganui and third placegetter Josh Boulton of Canterbury much to the delight of the 4800 fans who consider Cook a local because of his regular visits to the Bay.

In his second heat Cook, who started the round in 16th place, finished fourth from grid seven. Cook agreed his earlier visits paid off but said the biggest key to his success was the work Hawke's Bay-based mechanic and Speedway New Zealand president David Jones did on his engine.

Boulton won the top 10 pole shuffle to secure grid one for the 20-lap final which was raced after Hawke's Bay Today went to press. Stratford's Josh Ingram, an impressive rookie in the series, did well to finish third in the shuffle and win his first heat from grid two.

Huntly's Steve Williams, a former golf caddy for former world No 1, the series organiser won the third heat for the class from grid one.

Hawke's Bay superstock driver Maddison Wise won the driver of the night award across all classes with a third placing in his first heat and a victory in the third for his 17-car class. The five-time national karting champion secured his win after a spectacular battle with Hawke's Bay-based Palmerston North-contracted Andy McCabe at the front of the field.

This victory came less than three weeks after he shared the Tony MacIntosh Memorial trophy with Hawkeyes captain Steve Jude.

It was the ideal rehearsal before Wise heads to the Palmerston North-hosted nationals on Monday and Tuesday. McCabe and Jude were the other heat winners in this class.

The fourth round in the saloon series, which is raced over six consecutive nights, is scheduled for Rotorua tonight. The next meetings to be staged at Meeanee will feature the New Zealand Superstock Grand Prix on January 6 and 7.

More than 55 drivers are expected in the Grand Prix.