CRAIG Cook says it’s “awesome” to be leading Glasgow into the play-off final – after being forced to watch on helplessly last year.
Cook turned the Tigers’ season around when he signed during the 2018 season, but was injured when the club lost out after making the last four.
Now Cook is ready to help them go one step further – and bring home the title for the club he “loves” riding for.
Glasgow host the first leg of the final against Leicester tomorrow at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium, with the second leg taking place 24 hours later.
Cook said: “I’ve made no secret of my feelings about riding for Glasgow. It’s the most professional club I’ve raced for, I love being a part of it.
“After missing out last year, it is awesome to be a part of it this year. To help this team to the top has been a real honour – and hopefully we can finish off the job this weekend.
“It is going to be tough and there is no room for error – we need to hit them hard.”
It could be a trophy double for Cook this season, after he won the Pairs title with team-mate Rasmus Jensen last month.
Those two line up at numbers one and five, with Claus Vissing at three. They are joined by Mikkel B Andersen, Sam Jensen, Kyle Bickley and Connor Bailey in the Tigers’ side for the big occasion.
The final pits current Tigers boss Cami Brown against former Glasgow owner and manager Stewart Dickson, who now leads Leicester.
Brown said: “We both know how to get the best out of our riders and we’ve both become accustomed to a degree of success – so that just adds to the anticipation and the expectation on both sides.
“Stewart knows us well and we know him well, but when it comes to the start of the meeting, it is down to those 14 riders on the track to decide who wins the title.
“My sole focus is on making sure my seven men are ready. I want Glasgow Tigers’ name on that Championship trophy. It would be a huge honour to become one of just a few managers in the club’s history to lift the title.”
Tickets for the meeting will be available on the door, with the match getting under way at 7.30pm.
You can read more from Craig Cook in tomorrow’s matchday magazine.