Whalley and Cook sign on for 2027

NEWS Friday 13th November 2026, 8:50pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Edinburgh Monarchs 2027 team planning continues at pace as the fourth and fifth members of the septet that will take to the track come April next year can be announced as Ben Whalley and Craig Cook!

Neither are strangers to the Armadale faithful albeit at different ends of the scale with regard to Championship experience.

First up is Whalley who will slot in at reserve, the Kiwi of course a key man in last season's title winning Monarchs Academy as he made a mockery of his starting two point average finishing on a figure of 7.77.

Adding to this was a mid-season Championship slot at Plymouth and the 23-year-old thinks this experience will set him well as he embarks on his first full year at this level, Whalley saying, "It was always the plan when I first came over to get myself into the Championship and that was one of the reasons I choose Edinburgh last year as well.

"I wanted to come to a club where I could build up from the NDL to the Championship, the call to go to Plymouth came earlier than I expected and it was tough especially coming in when others had started from the beginning, so this year I am looking forward to having a team spot from the start of the season. I will start at the same time as everyone else and I am looking forward to it.

"I have that experience now though and I think it was only two tracks in the Championship I won't have ridden and they are both northern so I'll get plenty of opportunities at them this year, so last year will really have done me well as I know exactly what to expect almost everywhere."

With that Championship experience the Christchurch-born racer knows what he wants to work on as he looks to take the next step in his career, forthrightly stating, "It is my starts, I know I am as fast as anyone else and in the NDL I knew I could pass if I didn't make it but in the Championship everyone is so fast that you can lose the race in the first 20 yards so that is what I will be working on most as I know if I get out in front I can win races."

Craig Cook returns for 2027

If Whalley's progression from NDL to Championship is a natural and perhaps expected one, the announcement of the return of Craig Cook will no doubt be one that will raise eyebrows.

Of course, Cook is a name that needs no introduction to anyone of a Monarchs persuasion as talisman of the most successful period in the club's history albeit that now being over a decade ago.

The past few years have not quite gone to plan including his last spell with the Monarchs in 2023 but Cook comes into this season knowing what he needs to do saying, "It came out of the blue a little in the last couple of weeks really.

"Since I finished with Workington last year I have kind of put my head down and got myself into the gym. I have lost a substantial amount of weight and I feel the fittest I have probably since 2015.

"I thought to myself 'I am too good a rider to let everything slip through my fingers' so I have given myself a kick up the arse and as I said I have put my head down, I have been working hard to get myself ready.

"I thought I might need to wait and see what happens with regards a team spot but after all the work and effort I have put in I thought it would be a shame if I didn't end up with a club so I sent John (Campbell) a message and things came about quite quickly. We came to an agreement pretty easily and yeah it is great that I am back and I am looking forward to it.

"I am going to Australia in December and doing some racing over there so again I am just keeping my head down till I go over there and I am looking forward to racing and doing some testing and getting myself ready for the new season."

While looking ahead to the season ahead Cook is aware of what has gone before and does not shy away when asked about why this year will be different stating, "I can be honest and say I haven't been in the right mindset and there are reasons for that, I have done a lot of work on things and as I have said I have never been fitter physically and that helps with other stuff as well.

"Last year was a little different there was other stuff going on that won't happen at Edinburgh, when you deal with Edinburgh you know what you are going to get and you can crack on wth your season without things hanging on top of you.

"It is part of the reason I messaged John, I know at Edinburgh there is no stress and I can just crack on. You look back to what I can do, I made the Grand Prix for a reason and I still believe I can be a top rider when I want to be and I am in the right frame of mind and I am looking forward to the season."

Cook knows what it takes to bring silverware to Armadale and with the team shaping up as it stands he sees no reason why the glory days can not be back in 2027, "With the team that John has told me it is really exciting.

"It is a different direction this year, with no offence to anyone from last year, but Kye maybe didn't always have the back up in heats 13 and 15 and things like that. He will definitely have this year and the team looks completely different to the last few years and it will have that firepower and backup at the top and the young guys at the bottom getting better as well."

Craig heads Down Under

Prior to that hunt for glory starting, Cook heads for Australia to take part in recently announced Monarchs departee Justin Sedgmen's testimonial, this a testament to the relationship the pair formed as the opening double act particularly in 2015 but also to Cook's desire to be at the best he can be come tapes flying next year, "It has been ten years since I was in Australia and that was just on holiday.

"It will be great to be over there in December and get some vitamin d rather than the dark nights in the UK so I will have plenty time over there to get on the track, test some stuff and just enjoy it. It is something I have never done before, I have never raced there so it will be good for me to build sharpness and also doing it for Justin. We had great times together so I hope it is a great day for him."

So, that is five down - two to go as a much changed Monarchs team will take to track next season.

2027 Edinburgh Monarchs so far: Kye Thomson 8.23, Jonatan Grahn 5.63, Jordy Loftus 3.67, Ben Whalley 2.00, Craig Cook 8.18.

All signings subject to approval.