EDINBURGH’S Craig Cook told rival Ben Basso to “harden up” after they came to blows at Ashfield.
The Monarchs No.5 was excluded from Heat 9 for knocking off Basso during their BSN Series clash on Sunday evening.
The Dane jumped up and then grabbed Cook as they came to blows before being separated by officials.
Referee Jim McGregor was forced to speak to both riders following the clash and Cook was excluded from the race.
Cook said: “He came up the inside of me into turn three, just turned right on me and swung his back end into my wheels.
“If you want to play games like that, if you want to give it, you’ve got to take it.
“He’s there calling me fat, this that and the other. It must be hard for him in the race after and getting smoked by a fat man.
“It’s a man’s game not boys. How about have a spoon full of concrete and harden the f*** up.
“I don’t care what people think of me, nothing phases me. I’m a different person this year.
“They can say what they want, call me what they want. It doesn’t matter. I’m my own harshest critic. I don’t give a s*** what anybody says.”
Glasgow won the feisty battle 51-39 and Basso added: “We had a good battle. I felt like I had closed the door coming into the corner. But out the corner he just ran straight to the fence and into the bike. Then I came down and it was chaos.
“For about 10 seconds I just lost my temper. I went over to Craig like I shouldn’t have done. I just grabbed his helmet.
“I feel like I am normally in balance with myself. I can control my anger.
“But he was just chatting s*** a little bit. He said he’s bigger and stronger than me, he can beat me anytime. He can say whatever, I’m going to beat him next time.
“This doesn’t happen with me. It’s one of the first fights I’ve been involved in at a track.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.