Bandits Hook Jacob

There’ll be a new face in the starting line-up when your FTS Bandits, powered by Keenwood Karpets, return to the track on Friday night.

We are delighted to announce that 20-year-old Queenslander Jacob Hook is the man signed to replace long-term injury victim Nathan Stoneman and he will go straight into the side at Redcar.

From Burpengary East he began his racing career on the junior track at North Brisbane and was both state and national runner-up in the 250cc classes, representing Australia in the FIM World Youth Cup and finishing a highly creditable finishing sixth.

After a seamless switch to the 500s Jacob began to catch the attention of European promoters, Covid delaying his arrival at Edinburgh until last season.

Steady progress saw him invited back into the Monarchs’ starting line-up for this season, the Scots also taking advantage of relaxed National Development League rules to name him in their Monarchs Academy line-up.

But Jacob became a victim of the numbers game as the Armadale side released him and Kyle Bickley last week to fit in Danish signing Bastian Borke.

He remains on an assessed four point average and will partner Connor Coles at the Ecco Arena. Due to face him is Jason Edwards just three days after the pair were team-mates for GKM Grudziadz against Stal Gorzow in the Polish Under-24 league.

“It goes without saying that I was disappointed to be cut by Edinburgh but that’s the way it goes in speedway,” our new boy admitted.

“Once I heard that Berwick were interested it was a case of let’s sit down and get a deal done.

“One way and another I know all of the Bandits’ side and the club has a reputation for supporting and developing riders which I’m thinking will suit me perfectly.”

The signing of Hook means that Bullets’ captain Greg Blair’s run as a Championship guest is over – for now.

“We’ve kept Greg up to date over the past few days and, as you would expect from him, he’s cool with our decision to bring in Jacob,” Berwick co-owner Jamie Courtney said.

“He’s ready and willing to step up to the plate if we need him in the future and he’s certainly not let anyone down over the past couple of weeks.

“We just felt that Jacob is exactly the sort of rider we want here at Shielfield Park and when he became available we jumped at the opportunity.

“He’s not the first Aussie to find a home with us after being cut by Edinburgh so we know the drill.

“It’s been well publicised that Jonas gets a real average after the Redcar meeting so we needed to get the deal over the line before that limited our options.

“We have only raced one Championship meeting so far in 2023 – and won it – so the push for the play-offs is very much on and starting in Cleveland.”

Scott and Greg are hoping to talk to our new signing on Total Access, Berwick speedway’s hour-long speedway programme on internet station Radio Northumberland. Listen live at 6pm on Wednesday or via the podcast, available from Spotify and other podcast providers from Friday.