DANNY Ford insists he has “no huge concern” over the recent form of Zach Cook, believing the Aussie made “life hard for himself” in defeat at Oxford Cheetahs.

Cook crashed out while riding for Poole in Saturday’s win at Berwick Bandits.

Having sat out of his Premiership side Birmingham Brummies’ meeting on Monday, Cook returned to action with Pirates on Wednesday night at Oxford.

Poole were beaten 45-44 at Cowley, to leave the BSN Series southern group in the balance.

Cook totalled just 3+1 from his four rides on the night. It takes his overall tally for the season to paid 31 from 18 races, the second lowest total in the Poole side, with particular struggles on the road in the early stages of the campaign.

Asked if the 24-year-old’s points return was down to him feeling the effects of his crash at Berwick, promoter Ford told BBC Radio Solent: “I think if he’s being completely brutally honest with himself, he wasn’t 100 per cent, but he was 90 per cent.

“He was a little bit sore, but no speedway rider ever races at 100 per cent, to be honest.

“There would be something wrong or they wouldn’t be trying hard enough if they were!

“He was just making life hard for himself. He didn’t make a single gate.

“But Oxford is traditionally not a track we’ve gone well at in the past couple of years and the Cook boys have been a big part of that.

“I was expecting maybe a little bit more and Zach was probably expecting a little bit more from himself.

“I’m sure ourselves and Zach would’ve expected a few more.

“But no huge concern and I’m sure with a couple more days’ rest, he’ll be back to full fitness and hopefully making life easier for himself and making some starts.”

Poole return to action on Wednesday, hosting Workington Comets in the SGB Championship (7.30pm).