CONFUSION sprung on Wednesday night regarding Craig Cook’s role in the upcoming Speedway of Nations after the British Champion received a text from GB boss Alun Rossiter.

Rossiter, who also manages the Swindon Robins, sent a text message to Cook confirming that his services were not required in the upcoming the Speedway of Nations – despite being included in GB’s three-man squad alongside Tai Woffinden and Robert Lambert.

The 31-year-old Belle Vue Aces skipper took to social media to confirm the news he’d received via text, only for the national team to call upon Cook’s services again - just hours after being told he wouldn’t be racing.

Confusion was sparked by the Cumbrian-based racer's absence from Belle Vue’s SGB Premiership meeting against Leicester on Monday.

His withdrawal meant a seven-day ban was imposed on Cook for failing to race without a ‘speedway illness or injury’.

That news prompted Rossiter - who was under the impression that Cook had a doctor’s note that would rule him out of racing until Monday, June 4 – to drop Cook from the GB squad with growing concern that he would not be fit to race.

A Speedway Great Britain statement read: “Great Britain Speedway Team can confirm that Craig Cook will race in next week’s Speedway of Nations tournament.

“Cook sent on Tweet on Wednesday evening saying he had received a text from team manager Alun Rossiter to say he was not in the team for next week.

“Rossiter and Cook had spoken on the phone on Wednesday afternoon, with Rossiter seeking to clarify Cook’s situation after he pulled out of both his meetings for Belle Vue on Monday with an illness.

“Rossiter was under the impression that Cook had an official doctor’s note that ruled him out of any racing until next Monday (June 4), thus giving him cause for concern that Cook would not be fit and ready to race on Tuesday.

“However, Cook does not have a doctor’s note and is instead serving a seven-day ban handed down by the domestic authorities, due to him pulling out of Monday’s meeting with a ‘speedway illness or injury’.

“After further conversations between rider and manager, it was established that Cook is indeed ready to race and will take his place in the squad.”

Team Great Britain are first in action at the Speedway of Nations on Tuesday, June 5, in the second race-off at Manchester’s National Stadium against Czech Republic, Finland, France, Sweden, Italy and Australia.

Should GB quality, they will face the top three teams from Saturday’s first race-off in Teterow, Germany, and Poland in a two-legged Grand Final in Wroclaw on Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9.