PIRATES charger Ben Cook revealed how former world champions Tony Rickardsson and Greg Hancock were his idols.

Sensational Swede Rickardsson sealed his first world title of six in 1994, three years before Aussie youngster Cook was born.

American Hancock won the first of his four world championships in 1997.

Speaking about both Hancock and Rickardsson, Cook told Speedway Portal: “They have probably been my biggest idols since a young age.

“Greg’s kind of my height, so you learn how to try to gate off him.

“He had a lot of talent and the same with Tony.

“With those two, you know you have some kind of thing to look up to. They are my two idols.”

Cook had been set to follow in the footsteps of the iconic duo in donning the skull and crossbones this season.

But his Poole debut has been put back due to the coronavirus pandemic, with British chiefs hopeful of beginning racing later in the year.