August 2006

[Genghis]

HAMMERS HAMMERED!

Wednesday, August 2, 2006
ARENA ESSEX 39 OXFORD 53 (Elite League A)

REPORT BY: Rob Peasley

WEATHER: On-and-off rain throughout the meeting, as the black clouds passed overhead.
TRACK CONDITIONS: Very good - with the natural watering from above keeping the circuit in excellent shape!
REFEREE: Peter Clarke

Oxford registered a stunning 14-point away win at Arena Essex, to move off the bottom of the Sky Sports Elite League, and leave the well-beaten Hammers in the basement position.
The Cheetahs took immediate control of the meeting and had clinched victory with three heats still remaining. Chris Louis, guesting for the injured Ales Dryml, scored a brilliant maximum for Oxford, while the other six Cheetahs also contributed to what was a very solid team performance.
Rain had postponed the previous clash between the same two sides at Purfleet on May 24, and there was a feeling of deja vu as the drizzle hardened to rain as the riders took to their parade lap. However, this time the rain relented and the meeting got underway, albeit after a delay after the paramedic was called into the crowd.
The Cheetahs got off to a great start in HEAT 1, with Davey Watt & Todd Wiltshire first out of the gate. Wiltshire resisted a challenge from Rory Schlein (guesting for Arena in place of the injured Joonas Kylmakorpi) on the back straight of lap 1, but then pulled away to join Watt for a maximum heat win to Oxford (1-5).
Henning Bager led HEAT 2 from Lubos Tomicek & Eric Andersson, and despite a few moments for the young Oxford pairing early on (both making their first appearances at the track), fourth-placed Brent Werner could not take advantage and actually dropped further back (4-8).
David Howe was the early leader of HEAT 3, but Mikael Max got through a gap on the inside on the third turn. However, Howe was not to be denied, and dived under Max in forceful fashion on the opening bend of lap 2 to retake the lead. Skornicki then closed in on Max, and the Pole was very close to getting around Max on the finishing line, with Max holding onto second place by the matter of inches (6-12).
Louis & Andersson gated in HEAT 4, but Andersson locked up on the fourth bend, and Lanham powered around him, with Werner almost getting through on the inside at the same time. But Andersson fought off Werner, then pulled away to consolidate third place, as the Cheetahs took a second successive 4-2 (8-16).
HEAT 5 provided a glimmer of hope for the Hammers. Steve Johnston got out in front of Watt, while Max won an early battle with Wiltshire for third place. Watt then started to close in on Johnston, but could not get past. Watt went wider & wider in his attempts to round Johnston, but with Max also not far behind, it was a risky policy. On the second bend of the final lap, Watt went too wide and Max pounced to take second. Max then resisted a challenge from Watt on the final bend, as Arena hit back with a 5-1 (13-17).
Louis won a shared HEAT 6 from Schlein & Bager (16-20). Howe gated from Bager & Lanham in HEAT 7, but then came a BRILLIANT move by Skornicki to swoop around both Hammers at the completion of a lap. Skornicki then settled into second place behind Howe, while Lanham didn't bother to complete the final circuit (17-25).
The Cheetahs pulled further ahead with another 5-1 in HEAT 8 - this time courtesy of the sharp starting duo of Watt & Andersson. Johnston was close to passing Andersson on lap 2, but the young Swede kept his cool and also kept his second place (18-30).
It had been raining on-and-off up until this point, but shortly after Heat 8, the rain hardened once more. It was announced due to poor visibility, the racing would be halted until the rain got lighter. Soon the rain softened and then stopped completely, but still it was at least another 10-15 minutes before racing commenced. There seemed to be a certain amount of gamesmanship from the Arena promoter, who appeared to be dragging out the meeting as long as possible, in the hope of a heavy shower would arrive to cause an abandonment and spare his blushes. However, had the Arena promoter been stood on the terraces, he would have found that this was annoying the Arena fans as much as their Oxford counterparts!
By the time HEAT 9 started, it was raining again, but only lightly. Max was nominated as a tactical ride, but Louis beat him out of the start and disappeared into the distance. Johnston suffered an engine failure on the fourth bend and pulled out from second place, the position that Max inherited, as the race finished as a 4-4 (22-34).
Skornicki gated in HEAT 10, and although Schlein got level on the opening lap, Skornicki held him off and won the race. Bager finished third, while the hitherto unbeaten Howe finished in fourth place (25-37).
Lanham took a tactical ride in HEAT 11, but was beaten from the tapes by Wiltshire & Watt. Meanwhile, fourth-placed Bager was slow from the tapes with machinery problems, but continued trundling around at the back. This became an major issue, as the other three riders started to bear back down on him. Instead of pulling onto the centre green, Bager still kept going, and suddenly race-leader Wiltshire (now on his final lap) was right up with him. At the last moment, Bager pulled wide as he entered the third bend and Wiltshire missed him, while Watt & Lanham both throttled off, as they both also went inside the cruising Bager. Watt & Lanham had been battling for second, and thank goodness neither of them were trying the outside line at this point, otherwise there could have been a very nasty incident. Bager was excluded for being lapped, but as far as I know escaped further punishment from referee Peter Clarke for what was highly dangerous riding. Wiltshire showed his displeasure to Bager after the race, while Lanham's point was not doubled, as he had not beaten an opposing rider (26-42).
Johnston went out on Max's bike in HEAT 12, only just beating the two-minute countdown. It didn't do Johno any harm, as he flew around Tomicek down the back straight to win the race. Howe & Tomicek were content with the minor positions, which meant the Cheetahs clinched the match three heats early, while Werner pulled out of the race while in fourth place on lap 2 (29-45).
Wiltshire gated from Lanham in HEAT 13, with Lanham moving across the track down the back straight to try to halt Louis's outside charge. But Louis still swept by, moving from third to first. Wiltshire then came under pressure from Lanham, who eventually tore inside Wiltshire down the back straight of the final lap, to grab second place (31-49).
HEAT 14 had a bizarre ending. Max & Bager led the race, but Skornicki closed in on Bager, then dived under him on the third bend of the final lap. Bager fell, then moments later, Skornicki was down as well. Only Max & Andersson crossed the finishing line. The ref pondered, before putting on Skornicki's green exclusion light. The result of the race was awarded as a 5-1 to Arena Essex, but strangely a race time was also given, suggesting the race hadn't been stopped, in which case, surely Bager could only be awarded third, behind Andersson who actually finished the race (36-50).
HEAT 15 saw Max take the lead from Louis after a terrific burst around the outside on the opening half lap. However, Louis flew inside him after a lap, with astonishing ease and then won by a street, equalling the fastest time of the evening in the process! The end of a brilliant night for Chris Louis - a very welcome guest! (39-53).
And so the match ended over two hours after it had started. Meetings held in rain are normally staged at a quick pace - but not this one. I doubt if a tractor has ever done so many laps during a Speedway match, with the track graded between every single race! The heavy rain did eventually come, but at just after 10.00pm, around quarter of an hour after the meeting was completed.
But a great night for Oxford, not only our first away win of the season, but also a comfortable win, and against the team we're battling against for position in the league table as well!! Meanwhile, it's hard not to feel sorry for the Arena fans, who saw their team slump to an eighth successive home defeat - we've had some hard times this season too, and we know what it feels like.
The result equalled Oxford's best away performance since joining in the Elite League in 1998. In 1998, the Cheetahs won 52-38 at Swindon, a margin of 14 points that was matched by the result at Purfleet.
Not only that, but Oxford's last three away wins in the Elite League competition have now been at Purfleet. Prior to Wednesday's meeting, our last away win in league competition was at Arena Essex in March 2005. And before that, we also won at the Arena Essex Raceway in September 2004, although that match was actually against the Peterborough Panthers and was held at Arena as the Panthers couldn't fit the match in at the East Of England Showground before the cut-off for the play-offs.

ARENA ESSEX 39
Rory Schlein (guest for Joonas Kylmakorpi) 4 (4), Paul Hurry (R/R), Steve Johnston 7 (5), Mikael Max 13+1 (5) (incl. 4-point tactical ride), Leigh Lanham 6+1 (5) (incl. 1-point tactical ride - point not doubled), Henning Bager 9+3 (7), Brent Werner 0 (4).
Team manager: Ronnie Russell.

OXFORD 53
Todd Wiltshire 6+1 (5), Davey Watt 9+1 (4), David Howe 8 (4), Adam Skornicki 6+1 (4), Chris Louis (guest for Ales Dryml) 15 (5) (FULL MAXIMUM), Lubos Tomicek 4+1 (4), Eric Andersson 5+2 (4).
Team manager: Aaron Lanney.

HEAT DETAILS:
1: Watt (O), Wiltshire (O), Bager (A) (R/R), Schlein (A), 58.9 (1-5).
2: Bager (A), Tomicek (O), Andersson (O), Werner (A), 59.9 (4-8).
3: Howe (O), Max (A), Skornicki (O), Johnston (A), 59.2 (6-12).
4: Louis (O), Lanham (A), Andersson (O), Werner (A), 58.9 (8-16).
5: Johnston (A), Max (A), Watt (O), Wiltshire (O), 59.4 (13-17).
6: Louis (O), Schlein (A), Bager (A) (R/R), Tomicek (O), 58.8 (16-20).
7: Howe (O), Skornicki (O), Bager (A), Lanham (A) (ret), 59.5 (17-25).
8: Watt (O), Andersson (O), Johnston (A) (R/R), Werner (A), 59.0 (18-30).
9: Louis (O), Max (A) (TR), Tomicek (O), Johnston (A) (ret), 60.5 (22-34).
10: Skornicki (O), Schlein (A), Bager (A) (R/R), Howe (O), 61.2 (25-37).
11: Wiltshire (O), Watt (O), Lanham (A) (TR), Bager (A) (excluded, lapped), 60.6 (26-42).
12: Johnston (A), Howe (O), Tomicek (O), Werner (A) (ret), 60.8 (29-45).
13: Louis (O), Lanham (A), Wiltshire (O), Schlein (A), 59.5 (31-49).
14: Max (A), Bager (A), Andersson (O), Skornicki (O) (fell, excluded), awarded - but time of 60.5 given!! (36-50).
15: Louis (O), Max (A), Lanham (A), Wiltshire (O), 58.8 (39-53).

[Genghis]

CHEETAHS GIVE ROBINS A MIGHTY SCARE

Thursday, August 3, 2006
SWINDON 52 OXFORD 38 (Elite League B)

REPORT BY: Rob Peasley

WEATHER: Fine.
TRACK CONDITIONS: Only one racing line - and only two passes after the opening lap in 15 heats of action. And very bumpy - the safest rider in the sport, Leigh Adams, came a cropper after his back wheel fell into a hole in Heat 10.
REFEREE: Peter Clarke

The Oxford Cheetahs came out of this local derby match with their heads held up high, after coming close to pulling off the shock result of the 2006 season. The scores were level at 33 points apiece after 11 races, but Swindon then stepped up a gear in the final four races, as the Robins moved back to the top of the Elite League table.
The Cheetahs certainly had more than their share of bad luck in the meeting. David Howe was forced to pull out after hurting his knee in his first outing, while Davey Watt suffered a harsh exclusion after a first bend incident in Heat 8. The final scoreline was certainly flattering to the Robins.
HEAT 1 saw a tremendous gate from the outside by Dave Watt, and Watt actually pulled away from Leigh Adams, in a rare defeat for Adams around Blunsdon. With Todd Wiltshire in a solid third, the Cheetahs opened the night with a heat advantage (2-4).
Tomasz Chrzanowski & Eric Andersson were battling for the lead early in HEAT 2, but Andersson nearly fell on the second bend and dropped to fourth behind Lubos Tomicek & Mads Korneliussen. Andersson was close to the outside of Korneliussen at the end of third lap, but couldn't get past, as the Robins hit back with a 4-2 (6-6).
Adam Skornicki was an impressive winner of HEAT 3 ahead of Lee Richardson & Adrian Miedzinski. However, there was concern in the Oxford camp, as David Howe pulled onto the centre green with a lap to go, in clear discomfort. Howe had aggravated a knee injury, no doubt after hitting one of the numerous bumps on the track, and didn't take a further ride in the meeting (9-9).
HEAT 4 saw Krzysztof Kasprzak become the fourth winner as in many races off the outside gate, winning from Seb Ulamek & Tomasz Chrzanowski in another processional race (12-12).
Todd Wiltshire showed his class in HEAT 5, powering around Lee Richardson on the fourth bend of lap 3 to win the race in brilliant style. In doing so, Wiltshire put an end to the run of winners from gate 4. Unfortunately, though, Davey Watt had bike problems, before pulling up on the final lap, so the scores remained level (15-15).
Adams won from Kasprzak & Tomicek in HEAT 6 (18-18), before Swindon took the lead for the first time with a tapes-to-flag 5-1 for Korneliussen & Ulamek over Skornicki & Andersson (the latter in for the injured Howe) in HEAT 7 (23-19).
HEAT 8 provided a moment of controversy as Watt was excluded after what looked a clear-cut first bend bunching incident. Watt protested that his leg had been hit, causing him to fall, but referee Robbie Perks stuck by his decision. Swindon had been holding a 4-2 at the time of stoppage. In the re-run, Tomicek gated, but within half a lap, both Korneliussen & Chrzanowski had charged around him, as the Robins took a second successive maximum (28-20).
Kasprzak halted the slide by beating Miedzinski & Richardson in a shared HEAT 9 (31-23), then came the rarest of incidents in HEAT 10, a fall for Swindon No. 1 and former Oxford favourite Leigh Adams. Adams already seemed to have the race in his pocket, when he fell on the second bend of lap 2, after hitting one of the ruts on the track and sliding into the air fence. Simultaneously, fourth-placed Joel Parsons (in for Swindon's absent Russian, Renat Gafurov) fell in a separate incident. Parsons did remount, but the red lights had already come on, so it was a mystery when the race was awarded as a 5-1 to Skornicki & Tomicek over Parsons, as Parsons had not been under power at the point that the red lights flickered on. Thus Oxford were denied a 5-0 heat result (32-28).
Nevertheless, the Cheetahs were back in the hunt, and there was further delight for the travelling Cheetahs fans when Watt & Wiltshire took a 5-1 from HEAT 11, defeating Korneliussen & Ulamek, to bring the scores back level (33-33).
Unfortunately, Howe's absence from HEAT 12 allowed the Robins to retake the lead, with the Cheetahs forced to track their reserve pairing. Chrzanowski & Miedzinski gated, only for Andersson to get into second place after an excellent charge around the outside on the opening half-lap. But Andersson left a gap on the inside on the fourth bend and Miedzinski raced through the gap to join Chrzanowski for a 5-1 (38-34).
Ulamek & Adams led out of the second bend of HEAT 13, but with Wiltshire in hot pursuit. Wiltshire built up a tremendous amount of speed on the outside, but found the door firmly closed when he tried to go around Adams on the fourth bend of lap 2, with Wiltshire losing ground as a result and leaving the Robins clear in front (43-35).
After a closely contested opening couple of bends in HEAT 14, Tomicek moved into the lead after a charge around the outside. However, Chrzanowski produced a great move to fly around Tomicek at the halfway stage of the race, and with Richardson in third ahead of Skornicki, the Robins took a 4-2 to win the match (47-37).
Adams & Ulamek repeated their Heat 13 dose in HEAT 15, fighting off Wiltshire on the opening turns, before pulling away. Kasprzak had machinery problems and pulled out, then Wiltshire also slowed, and cruised around on the final lap to take the third placed point, as the Robins ended up with a highly-flattering 14-point win (52-38).
Oxford's top scorer was reserve Lubos Tomicek, who battled to a fine paid 10 tally, while Todd Wiltshire (who produced a superb pass on Lee Richardson in Heat 5), Davey Watt (who beat Leigh Adams around his own patch in Heat 1), Adam Skornicki & guest Krzysztof Kasprzak all had their moments. And Eric Andersson rode his heart out, but for no reward.
For Swindon, former GP star Tomasz Chrzanowski had a sensational debut, dropping just one point. He looks a complete steal in a 4.28 average, and the Robins look even more formidable at home than before.
So, there's been three meetings for the Cheetahs this week resulting in two fine victories and one honourable defeat. It's great to be off the bottom of the table, while the team are now looking competitive both home & away. Cheetahs' fans can now look forward to the rest of the season with optimism.

SWINDON 52
Leigh Adams 9+2 (5), Joel Parsons 1 (3), Adrian Miedzinski 6+3 (4), Lee Richardson 6+1 (4), Seb Ulamek 10+1 (5), Mads Korneliussen 8 (4), Tomasz Chrzanowski 12+2 (5).
Team manager: Alun Rossiter.

OXFORD 38
Todd Wiltshire 8+1 (5), Davey Watt 6 (4), David Howe 0 (1), Adam Skornicki 7 (4), Krzysztof Kasprzak (guest for Ales Dryml) 8 (5), Lubos Tomicek 8+2 (6), Eric Andersson 1 (5).=20
Team manager: Aaron Lanney.

HEAT DETAILS:
1: Watt (O), Adams (S), Wiltshire (O), Parsons (S), 65.68 (2-4).
2: Chrzanowski (S), Tomicek (O), Korneliussen (S), Andersson (O), 67.68 (6-6).
3: Skornicki (O), Richardson (S), Miedzinski (S), Howe (O) (ret), 67.27 (9-9).
4: Kasprzak (O), Ulamek (S), Chrzanowski (S), Andersson (O), 67.64 (12-12).
5: Wiltshire (O), Richardson (S), Miedzinski (S), Watt (O) (ret), 66.93 (15-15).
6: Adams (S), Kasprzak (O), Tomicek (O), Parsons (S), 66.14 (18-18).
7: Korneliussen (S), Ulamek (S), Skornicki (O), Andersson (O), 66.77 (23-19).
8: (Re-run) Korneliussen (S), Chrzanowski (S), Tomicek (O), Watt (O) (fell, excluded), 66.27 (28-20).
9: Kasprzak (O), Miedzinski (S), Richardson (S), Andersson (O), 67.11 (31-23).
10: Skornicki (O), Tomicek (O), Parsons (S) (fell, remounted), Adams (S) (fell, excluded), awarded - no time (32-28).
11: Watt (O), Wiltshire (O), Korneliussen (S), Ulamek (S), 66.90 (33-33).
12: Chrzanowski (S), Miedzinski (S), Andersson (O), Tomicek (O), 68.36 (38-34).
13: Ulamek (S), Adams (S), Wiltshire (O), Kasprzak (O), 67.11 (43-35)
14: Chrzanowski (S), Tomicek (O), Richardson (S), Skornicki (O), 68.18 (47-37).
15: Ulamek (S), Adams (S), Wiltshire (O), Kasprzak (O) (ret), 66.83 (52-38).

[Genghis]

BATTLING CHEETAHS JUST MISS OUT, AFTER A CLASSIC ENCOUNTER

Monday, August 7, 2006
WOLVERHAMPTON 46 OXFORD 44 (Elite League B)

REPORT BY: Rob Peasley
WEATHER: Warm and sunny.
TRACK CONDITIONS: Very good. Was actually quite slick, especially towards the end, but some absolutely cracking racing.
REFEREE: Jim Lawrence.

Oxford Cheetahs put in an excellent effort at Wolverhampton, but fell just short in an enthralling encounter, losing by just two points. The Cheetahs went into the final race needing a 5-1 to win or a 4-2 to draw. But while Oxford guest David Norris led the race, home men Billy Hamill & Peter Karlsson packed the minor placings, with Cheetahs captain Todd Wiltshire giving it his all but coming in fourth.
The evening had begun with Wiltshire showing Peter Karlsson a clean pair of heels in HEAT 1, and with Davey Watt in third place, Oxford took an early lead (2-4).
Wolves pegged it back level in HEAT 2. William Lawson & Magnus Karlsson from first from the tapes, but Eric Andersson came inside Karlsson on the back straight of lap 1 to take second place and then took up pursuit of Lawson. Andersson put the pressure on, but Wilson held steadfast to win the race. Nevertheless it had been a super effort by Oxford's young Swede (6-6).
Billy Hamill was the early leader of HEAT 3, but David Howe moved under him on the back straight. Hamill then hit back, swooping around Howe on the fourth turn, on his way to the heat victory, while Adam Skornicki took third ahead of Lawson (9-9).
Andersson made a good start in HEAT 4, but Fredrik Lindgren & David Norris flew around him on the opening bends, then Mikael Karlsson cut inside him on the second bend. However, Andersson then fought back, shooting back past Karlsson as the two riders completed the halfway stage of the race. With Norris in second, it ensured a share of the spoils, as the scores remained level (12-12).
Oxford retook the advantage with a 4-2 in HEAT 5, with Wiltshire beating Hamill and Watt winning a rare-old battle with Lawson for third place. Watt moved under Lawson on the back straight of lap 1, only for Lawson to fly back around him on the fourth bend. Watt again came charging under his opponent on the back straight of lap 2, and this time made the move stick (14-16).
In HEAT 6, Wolves levelled it again, with Peter Karlsson winning from David Norris, Christian Hefenbrock and Lubos Tomicek (18-18). Former Wolf David Howe showed his still knows the best way around Monmore Green in HEAT 7. Beaten from the tapes by Magnus Karlsson & Lindgren, he moved inside Lindgren on the back straight of lap 2, and then repeated the move to pass Karlsson in the same spot a lap later. Super stuff from the Englishman to keep the scores deadlocked. Skornicki came in fourth on a sick motor (21-21).
HEAT 8 was another terrific race. Andersson led, but Lawson moved inside him on the back straight. Lawson then came under attack from both sides, with Andersson surging around him on the fourth bend, and then just moments later, Watt charged under him as they completed a lap. Spectacular stuff, with the Oxford pair carrying on to hammer in a 5-1 and move the Cheetahs into a four-point lead (22-26).
Norris gated in HEAT 9, and the race seemed set to be shared. However, Hamill had other ideas and rounded Norris in spectacular style on the fourth bend of lap 3 to win the race, as Wolves narrowed with the gap with a 4-2 (26-28).
HEAT 10 saw the pendulum swing Wolverhampton's way. Peter Karlsson & the previously out-of-touch Hefenbrock got out in front, then no matter how hard Howe tried, he could not get inside Hefenbrock. The 5-1 to the home side put them into the lead for the first time on the night (31-29).
Lindgren pulled away to win HEAT 11, with Wiltshire & Watt in the minor positions, and Lawson in last place. Wolves took a two-point lead into the interval (34-32).
HEAT 12 was a terrific race. Hefenbrock took the R/R ride for Ronnie Correy, while Oxford team manager Bryn Williams brought in the in-form Andersson in place of Tomicek. Oxford were hopeful of a 5-1 in this race, but Hefenbrock looked like spoiling the party when he popped out in front. Both Andersson & Howe were soon on his tail, and in a magical move, they went either side of Hefenbrock (Howe inside, Andersson outside) as the three riders completed one lap. Hefenbrock was not beaten, and raced back after Andersson, before getting inside him on the back straight of lap 3. So Oxford took a 4-2 and once more the scores were level (36-36).
If anything HEAT 13, was an even better race. Wiltshire & Norris jetted from the tapes, but Peter Karlsson then produced a ride that was World Class. He ducked inside Wiltshire after a lap-and-a-half to take second, then went off in pursuit of Norris. Norris rode the fourth bend of lap 3 just a little too tight, and Karlsson spotted his opportunity, moved to the outside and blasted around Norris to take the lead. Meanwhile, Lindgren had been closing in on Wiltshire and moved inside the Oxford captain on the back straight of the final lap. But like Norris a lap earlier, Lindgren stuck to the inside on the fourth bend and Wiltshire grabbed a handful of throttle to sweep back around Lindgren and snatch third place. A grandstand finish to a fantastic race - and the scores were STILL level! (39-39).
Wolves moved back ahead in HEAT 14. Hamill was the race winner, with team-mare Lawson in second place in the early stages. But Andersson nipped around Lawson on the fourth bend of lap 1, then a real battle for the minor placings commenced, with Lawson chasing Andersson and Skornicki chasing Lawson. Skornicki tried his all to get past Lawson, but the power in the bike wasn't there and he trailed in fourth, as Wolves took a 4-2 at a crucial time (43-41).
Wolverhampton won the toss of the coin for starting positions in HEAT 15 and choose 2 & 4, and placed Karlsson off gate 2 and Hamill the outside. With David Howe starting to fell the effects of his knee injury, Bryn Williams went for Norris (gate 1) & Wiltshire (gate 3). Norris made an excellent start from the inside, to take the lead, but Wiltshire was squeezed out around the opening bends and found himself at the back. The Wolves pair of Hamill & Karlsson seemed to have settled for the match-winning 3-3, but Hamill then closed in on Norris on the last lap. Coming out of the final bend, Hamill attempted the outside line, but Norris was already heading out wide himself, and with the fence rapidly approaching, Hamill had to shut off to avoid the fence. Hamill's momentum still took him over the line in second place, and with Karlsson in third, the home side had won by the narrowest of margin. But it had been a brave effort by the Cheetahs (46-44).
So, another excellent away performance by Oxford. This was an extremely hard-fought match with never more than four points between the two sides (the most Wolves led by was by two, their final margin of victory!) and could have gone either way. And while there is always a certain sense of disappointment in losing by such a tight margin, it was also very pleasing to again see the Cheetahs putting up such a good account of themselves on their travels.
David Norris proved to be an excellent guest, while Eric Andersson was in the thick of the action all night, and thoroughly deserved his paid 10 tally. David Howe did exceptionally well, given that his knee injury started to play up during the match, and Todd Wiltshire claimed the scalps of Karlsson & Hamill on their own track. Davey Watt put in a solid performance, and there was no lack of effort from Skornicki or Tomicek, despite their low scores.
For Wolves, while Karlsson, Hamill & Lindgren picked up most of their points, arguably it was the ride of Hefenbrock in Heat 10 and the third place taken by Lawson in Heat 14, that turned the match the way of the home side.
But, to conclude, fantastic Speedway and a brilliant meeting to watch.

WOLVERHAMPTON 46
Peter Karlsson 12+1 (5), Christian Hefenbrock 5+1 (5), Ronnie Correy (R/R), Billy Hamill 13 (5), Fredrik Lindgren 7+1 (4), William Lawson 5 (6), Magnus Karlsson 4 (5).
Team manager: Peter Adams.

OXFORD 44
Todd Wiltshire 9+1 (5), Davey Watt 5+2 (4), David Howe 9 (4), Adam Skornicki 1+1 (4), David Norris 11 (5), Lubos Tomicek 0 (3), Eric Andersson 9+1 (5).
Team manager: Bryn Williams.

HEAT DETAILS:
1: Wiltshire (O), P. Karlsson (W), Watt (O), Hefenbrock (W), 56.49 (2-4).
2: Lawson (W), Andersson (O), M. Karlsson (W), Tomicek (O), 57.94 (6-6).
3: Hamill (W), Howe (O), Skornicki (O), Lawson (W) (R/R), 56.79 (9-9).
4: Lindgren (W), Norris (O), Andersson (O), M. Karlsson (W), 56.83 (12-12).
5: Wiltshire (O), Hamill (W), Watt (O), Lawson (W) (R/R), 57.03 (14-16).
6: P. Karlsson (W), Norris (O), Hefenbrock (W), Tomicek (O), 57.11 (18-18).
7: Howe (O), M. Karlsson (W), Lindgren (W), Skornicki (O), 57.92 (21-21).
8: Andersson (O), Watt (O), Lawson (W), Hefenbrock (W), 58.31 (22-26).
9: Hamill (W), Norris (O), M. Karlsson (W) (R/R), Tomicek (O), 56.92 (26-28).
10: P. Karlsson (W), Hefenbrock (W), Howe (O), Skornicki (O), 57.07 (31-29).
11: Lindgren (W), Wiltshire (O), Watt (O), Lawson (W), 57.40 (34-32).
12: Howe (O), Hefenbrock (W) (R/R), Andersson (O), M. Karlsson (W), 58.51 (36-36).
13: P. Karlsson (W), Norris (O), Wiltshire (O), Lindgren (W), 57.51 (39-39).
14: Hamill (W), Andersson (O), Lawson (W), Skornicki (O), 57.97 (43-41).
15: Norris (O), Hamill (W), P. Karlsson (W), Wiltshire (O), 57.45 (46-44).

[Genghis]

CHEETAHS TRUMP ACES, AFTER A THRILLER AT SANDY LANE

Wednesday, August 9, 2006
OXFORD 46 BELLE VUE 44 (Elite League B)

REPORT BY: Rob Peasley

WEATHER: Sunny.
TRACK CONDITIONS: Excellent.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Eric Andersson.
REFEREE: Graham Reeve & Dave Robinson.

Oxford Cheetahs continued their resurgence in form, by winning a third successive home match, after pipping Belle Vue by two points in an absolute humdinger of a meeting at Sandy Lane.
The Cheetahs trailed 18-24 at the halfway stage, but showed great grit and determination to bounce back and led by four points going into the final race, where a second place by the evergreen Todd Wiltshire was enough to clinch victory.
Wiltshire scored 11 paid 12, and received good support from Adam Skornicki & Eric Andersson (both 9), with the latter enjoying a terrific meeting from the reserve berth. Meanwhile, World Champion elect Jason Crump was in imperious mood for the Aces, streaking to a brilliant 15-point maximum.
Wiltshire got his evening off to a winning start by heading home Simon Stead in HEAT 1, but a chance of a heat advantage was lost when Davey Watt was passed on the inside by James Wright as the two riders completed the second lap (3-3).
HEAT 2 was a disaster for Oxford, with Lubos Tomicek lifting at the tapes, then Eric Andersson going wide on the second turn, to leave the Aces pair of Joel Parsons & Tom P Madsen in a clear lead. Tomicek closed in on Madsen, but the gap was too great and the Aces took a maximum heat advantage (4-8).
Adam Skornicki & David Howe pulled back a 4-2 in HEAT 3, with Skornicki leading all the way, while Howe moved inside Joe Screen on the second bend to take third. Howe then pressed Kenneth Bjerre for second place but was unable to get through, while Screen pulled up on the final lap, after running into mechanical trouble (8-10).
Jason Crump flashed from the tapes in HEAT 4 ahead of Andersson, Madsen and Oxford guest David Norris, then Norris was pushed wide on the second bend and fell. Norris soon realised that the race wasn't not going to be stopped, so remounted his machine, but then pulled up on the third lap (10-14).
Skornicki & Howe looked all set for a 5-1 in HEAT 5, but Howe went wide on the second bend of the third lap, bouncing off the fence and dropping from second to fourth behind a grateful Stead & Wright. Howe began to slow soon after, and then pulled up on the final lap, as the Aces stayed four points in front (13-17).
Crump won HEAT 6 from Watt & Wiltshire (16-20), then Belle Vue extended their lead to six, after Bjerre won an all-action HEAT 7. Norris was the early leader, but Bjerre & Screen but moved inside him on the opening half-lap. Norris pushed back under Screen on the second bend of lap 2, with Screen getting out of shape, allowing Tomicek to move into =
third down the back straight. But Screen then raced back under Tomicek at the halfway point of the race, to move back into third place (18-24).
Watt led HEAT 8 from start to finish, but all eyes were on the battle for second place. Madsen was put under extreme pressure by an ever-probing Andersson, but the young Swede was unable to find a route through, and the Cheetahs had to settle for a 4-2 (22-26).
Crump moved at the tapes in HEAT 9, leading to trainee referee Dave Robinson called all four back. Oxford had been holding a 4-2 at the time of the stoppage, but in the re-run, Crump gated and was gone. Skornicki finished second, while Howe battled under Parsons on the back straight of lap 3 to take third (25-29).
Wiltshire gated in HEAT 10, while Watt blasted around Screen on the third bend to take second place. Watt then came back under pressure from Screen, but held him off, as Oxford took a vital 5-1 to level the scores heading into the interval break (30-30).
Norris had the best of the first turn in HEAT 11, however Stead snaked across the track entering the first turn, and Tomicek clipped the back of Stead's machine and took a tumble. The ref's decision was all four back, while Tomicek was soon up and able to take his part in the re-run. Tomicek lifted at the start and got away in fourth place, but Norris gated and then won his first race of the night from Stead. Tomicek closed in on Wright, but Wright held onto third and the scores remained level (33-33).
The Cheetahs then took the lead for the first time on the night in HEAT 12, as Andersson & Howe got out in front and then rode a perfect four laps to head home Bjerre. Meanwhile, Madsen had suffered machinery problems at the start, but just as he pulled onto the centre green on the first turn, the bike fired into life. Madsen completed the four laps in fourth place, but it was then announced that he had been excluded from the race, as both wheels had crossed the white line on that first turn (38-34).
Wiltshire led Crump for half a lap in HEAT 13, before Crump went flashing by on the outside. However, Wiltshire maintained a comfortable second ahead of Stead, and Oxford's lead was now two points (40-38).
HEAT 14 was a cracker. Andersson gated, and took everything that the much-more experienced Screen could throw at him. Several times it looked like Screen might get by, but Andersson blocked his every move. Screen then made one last charge around the outside on the final bend, but Oxford's talented young Swede held on. Meanwhile, Skornicki won a battle for third with Madsen, after the two exchanged places twice on the final lap, with Madsen past Skornicki on the back straight, but Skornicki then back under Madsen on the very final bend. Quite a race - and Oxford's advantage was extended to four points going into final heat (44-40).
Oxford won the toss for gate positions for HEAT 15 and team manager Aaron Lanney plumped for Wiltshire (gate 1) & Skornicki (gate 3). In opposition were Stead (gate 2) and Crump (gate 4). Crump charged into the lead, and went on to complete his second 15-point maximum of the season at Cowley. But crucially Todd Wiltshire settled into second place, and with Stead in third and Skornicki fourth, the Cheetahs had won their second successive home match by the exciting margin of two points! (46-44).
So, another close-run meeting involving Oxford! After going so close at Wolves on Monday, it was great for the Cheetahs to end up on the winning side this time around. And it's always slightly more satisfying when the team come from behind to win! It was also a meeting well appreciated by one of Oxford's best crowds of the season.
To summarise, a night of top class entertainment, with some thrilling racing and a Cheetahs victory. Now bring on the Swindon Robins!

OXFORD 46
Todd Wiltshire 11+1 (5), Davey Watt 7+1 (4), David Howe 4+2 (4), Adam Skornicki 9 (5), David Norris (guest for Ales Dryml) 5 (4), Lubos Tomicek 1 (3), Eric Andersson 9 (5).
Team manager: Aaron Lanney.

BELLE VUE 44
Simon Stead 7+1 (5), James Wright 4+2 (4), Kenneth Bjerre 6 (4), Joe Screen 4 (4), Jason Crump 15 (5) (FULL MAXIMUM), Joel Parsons (guest for Phil Morris) 3 (3), Tom P. Madsen 5+1 (5).
Team manager: Ian Thomas.

HEAT DETAILS:
1: Wiltshire (O), Stead (B), Wright (B), Watt (O), 58.89 (3-3).
2: Parsons (B), Madsen (B), Tomicek (O), Andersson (O), 59.77 (4-8).
3: Skornicki (O), Bjerre (B), Howe (O), Screen (B) (ret), 59.62 (8-10).
4: Crump (B), Andersson (O), Madsen (B), Norris (O) (fell, remounted, ret), 58.64 (10-14).
5: Skornicki (O), Wright (B), Stead (B), Howe (O) (ret), 59.23 (13-17).
6: Crump (B), Watt (O), Wiltshire (O), Parsons (B), 59.02 (16-20).
7: Bjerre (B), Norris (O), Screen (B), Tomicek (O), 59.33 (18-24).
8: Watt (O), Madsen (B), Andersson (O), Wright (B), 59.93 (22-26).
9: (re-run) Crump (B), Skornicki (O), Howe (O), Parsons (B), 58.71 (25-29).
10: Wiltshire (O), Watt (O), Screen (B), Bjerre (B), 60.23 (30-30).
11: (re-run) Norris (O), Stead (B), Wright (B), Tomicek (O), 60.24 (33-33).
12: Andersson (O), Howe (O), Bjerre (B), Madsen (B) (excluded, left track), 60.83 (38-34).
13: Crump (B), Wiltshire (O), Stead (B), Norris (O), 59.77 (40-38).
14: Andersson (O), Screen (B), Skornicki (O), Madsen (B), 61.23 (44-40).
15: Crump (B), Wiltshire (O), Stead (B), Skornicki (O), 59.42 (46-44).

[Genghis]

CHEETAHS OVERCOME BOTH THE WEATHER & THE ROBINS!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006
OXFORD 48 SWINDON 47 (Elite League B)
Swindon win aggregate point by 99-86.

REPORT BY: Rob Peasley

WEATHER: A prolonged heavy shower around half an hour before the scheduled start-time put this match in jeopardy. However, the track staff took off the top surface, and the meeting eventually got underway at 8.00pm.
TRACK CONDITIONS: Naturally quite grippy & heavy, but produced some super racing right up the end of the meeting. A real credit to the Oxford track staff.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Eric Andersson.
REFEREE: Phil Griffin.

Oxford Cheetahs won their fourth match on the trot at Sandy Lane, and in doing so, put a big hole in the title hopes of fierce local rivals, the Swindon Robins. In front of one of the largest attendances at Cowley in 2006, the Cheetahs looked in firm control of this fixture, taking a 32-22 lead after 9 races. But the Robins, aided by tactical riders, then closed the gap, with just three points separating the teams with two heats to go. However, Adam Skornicki & Eric Andersson then took a 4-2 from Heat 14, which rendered a last-heat Swindon 5-1 as academic.
Niels-Kristian Iversen guested for the injured Ales Dryml, while No. 8 Stanislaw Burza replaced Lubos Tomicek, missing through a recurrence of his shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Swindon operated R/R for the injured Adrian Miedzinski.
The evening started with a shared race in HEAT 1, with Leigh Adams heading home Todd Wiltshire & Davey Watt, while Swindon's recent signing Tomasz Chrzanowski trailed in last after being pushed wide on the first turn (3-3).
In HEAT 2, Stanislaw Burza & Eric Andersson got out in front, but Chrzanowski started to close in on Andersson. Chrzanowski thrust himself inside Andersson on the back straight of the final lap and both riders entered the third bend side-by-side. However, Chrzanowski then straightened up and was a near faller, and it was Andersson who came home in second place, with Mads Korneliussen also stealing third from his out-of-shape team-mate, as Oxford took a 5-1 (8-4).
Adam Skornicki led for the first one-and-a-half laps in HEAT 3, but Lee Richardson, looking much sharper than on his previous appearance at Cowley, flew under the Pole on the back straight of lap 2. Renat Gafurov finished third, while David Howe failed to finish the final lap (10-8).
Andersson gated in HEAT 4, but team-mate Iversen made a less good start, and then Iversen fell on the first turn, trying a swoop around the outside and remounted at the back. Meanwhile, Seb Ulamek went very wide on the second bend trying to go around Andersson and dropped back to a distant third behind Andersson & Chrzanowski, as the race ended as a 3-3 (13-11).
Howe trapped in HEAT 5, but Adams powered the Englishman around the second bend, to take the lead. A battle for third place then ensued, with Skornicki under Korneliussen on the back straight of lap 1, Korneliussen hitting back on the outside on the fourth place, but Skornicki then making the decisive move on the inside on the opening bends of lap 2. Korneliussen then ground to a halt on the third lap (16-14).
Watt & Wiltshire were fast away from the tapes in HEAT 6, then Wiltshire locked up just slightly on the second turn, which seemed to distract the following Korneliussen, who fell. Korneliussen signalled towards the ref's box, but referee Phil Griffin was having none of it, and Korneliussen then left the track to let the race continue, as the Cheetahs took a maximum heat advantage over a subdued Ulamek (21-15).
Iversen led in HEAT 7, but was making all sorts of mistakes. One such mistake took him wide on the second bend of lap 3, with Richardson then thrusting himself inside Iversen on the back straight to relieve Iversen of first place. Worse was to follow, as Iversen nearly fell on the fourth bend of lap 3, allowing Gafurov to close up, and then the Russian went flying around Iversen in great style on the final bend to snatch second place in a 5-1 to the Robins (22-20).
HEAT 8 took three attempts to run. Take 1: Lots of messing about at the start between Watt (gate 3) & Richardson (gate 4), who start the race almost on top of each other. After an even break, Richardson tries to take the initiative entering the first bend, but rears and comes tumbling down, with Chrzanowski also coming down as a result. Richardson is excluded. Take 2: Andersson & Chrzanowski get into a tangle halfway to the first bend, and both hit the deck. The ref allows all 3 riders back into the second re-run. Take 3: Watt & Andersson hit the front, but Andersson makes an error and Chrzanowski goes around him on the back straight of lap 2. However, Andersson then sets back after Chrzanowski, and switches lines to cut inside Chrzanowski on the third bend of lap 3. Oxford move six points in front, courtesy of this 5-1 (27-21).
The Cheetahs then extended their lead further with a straightforward 5-1 for Skornicki & Howe in HEAT 9 (32-22). Swindon team manager Alun Rossiter nominated Lee Richardson as a tactical ride in HEAT 10, but Watt & Wiltshire beat him from the tapes. Wiltshire left a gap on his inside on the fourth bend, and Richardson came past, but Wiltshire then tried hard to regain second place, coming close on the inside on the fourth bend of lap 3, before just missing out after a blast around the outside on the final bend. With Richardson's points doubled, the race finished as a 4-4 (36-26).
It was the turn of Adams to take a tactical ride in HEAT 11, and it was no surprise when Adams won the race, with Iversen second. Burza got into third place after a good run around the outside on the second turn, but Gafurov hit back on the inside on the fourth bend, and the Robins took a 7-2 to half the Oxford lead (38-33).
Chrzanowski came alive to win HEAT 12, with a tapes-to-flag victory. Meanwhile, Gafurov produced a wild but entertaining ride. After missing the gate, Gafurov swept under Andersson on the third bend, but his momentum was too great and he nudged the back of second-placed Howe's bike on the fourth turn, with the Russian going wide a result and losing third back to Andersson. But Gafurov recovered, and then flew around Andersson on the back straight of lap 3, as Swindon pulled back another couple of points (40-37).
HEAT 13 needed a re-start after Iversen fell in a first-bend incident, with Wiltshire leading Adams at the time of the stoppage and the referee allowing all 4 riders back in the re-run. Second time around, Wiltshire again gated, but Adams flew around him on the second bend and then disappeared into the distance. Meanwhile, Wiltshire was content to team-ride the somewhat erratic Iversen to a 3-3, although the chase of the following Chrzanowski was cut short after the Pole went very wide on the second bend of lap 3 and then pulled out later on the same lap, after suffering a puncture (43-40).
Lee Richardson's bike conked out shortly before the start of HEAT 14, and after frantic attempts to fire the bike back into life, he gave up, got off the bike, and started to run back towards the pits. At this point, the two minutes time allowance expired, and Richardson was excluded. Leigh Adams appeared to then have an alternative bike ready for Richardson, so it was strange when off-colour reserve Korneliussen was then put into the race by Alun Rossiter, instead of Richardson being reinstated off a 15m handicap. Andersson gated, ahead of Chrzanowski & Korneliussen, with Skornicki trailing. Andersson locked up on the second bend, and the Swindon riders went either side of him, but then Skornicki pounced with a marvellous move to go in between the Robins down the back straight to take the lead. Andersson, now in fourth place, then hit back, powering around Korneliussen down the back straight of lap 2, but Korneliussen then thrust himself back inside his opponent on the third bend. Andersson calmly waited as Korneliussen's momentum took him wide, and pounced back inside Korneliussen as the two riders completed two laps. Andersson then consolidated his third position, and the Cheetahs now only needed to provide one finisher in the final race to clinch the meeting (47-42).
Adams & Richardson took a consolation 5-1 in HEAT 15, despite Watt chasing Richardson for second place. And so the Cheetahs took victory by the narrowest of margins (48-47).
So, another good all-round team performance by the Cheetahs. Davey Watt has looked really sharp since returning from injury a couple of weeks ago and topped the scorechart for the home side, while Eric Andersson's contribution from reserve was again crucial. Iversen was a slightly disappointing guest, given he scored paid 14 for Peterborough at Cowley recently.
Meanwhile, Swindon's unbeaten run came to an end and it will now be difficult for the Robins to finish in a top two position, prior to the play-offs. Leigh Adams was his usual immaculate self, but Seb Ulamek & Mads Korneliussen both had dreadful meetings.
And just to reiterate again, what a wonderful job the Oxford track staff did in not only getting this meeting on, but getting the track into a condition which allowed some great racing. Another great night of Speedway action at Cowley, with the old enemy defeated and Alun Rossiter sent back down the A420 with his tail between his legs!!

OXFORD 48
Todd Wiltshire 6+2 (4), Davey Watt 11+1 (5), David Howe 6+1 (4), Adam Skornicki 9+1 (5), Niels-Kristian Iversen (guest for Ales Dryml) 5 (4), Stanislaw Burza 3 (3), Eric Andersson 8+2 (5).
Team manager: Aaron Lanney.

SWINDON 47
Leigh Adams 18 (5) (incl. 6-point tactical ride) (FULL MAXIMUM), Adrian Miedzinski (R/R), Renat Gafurov 5+1 (5), Lee Richardson 12+1 (5) (incl. 4-point tactical ride), Seb Ulamek 3+1 (3), Mads Korneliussen 1 (5), Tomasz Chrzanowski 8 (7).
Team manager: Alun Rossiter.

HEAT DETAILS:
1: Adams (S), Wiltshire (O), Watt (O), Chrzanowski (S) (R/R), 59.65 (3-3).
2: Burza (O), Andersson (O), Korneliussen (S), Chrzanowski (S), 61.18 (8-4).
3: Richardson (S), Skornicki (O), Gafurov (S), Howe (O) (ret), 60.92 (10-8).
4: Andersson (O), Chrzanowski (S), Ulamek (S), Iversen (O) (fell, remounted), 61.17 (13-11).
5: Adams (S), Howe (O), Skornicki (O), Korneliussen (S) (R/R) (ret), 60.48 (16-14).
6: Watt (O), Wiltshire (O), Ulamek (S), Korneliussen (S) (fell), 60.77 (21-15).
7: Richardson (S), Gafurov (S), Iversen (O), Burza (O), 60.80 (22-20).
8: (Re-run twice) Watt (O), Andersson (O), Chrzanowski (S), Richardson (S) (R/R) (fell, excluded), 61.33 (27-21).
9: Skornicki (O), Howe (O), Ulamek (S), Korneliussen (S), 60.42 (32-22).
10: Watt (O), Richardson (S) (TR), Wiltshire (O), Gafurov (S), 60.20 (36-26).
11: Adams (S) (TR), Iversen (O), Gafurov (S) (R/R), Burza (O), 60.27 (38-33).
12: Chrzanowski (S), Howe (O), Gafurov (S), Andersson (O), 60.93 (40-37).
13: (Re-run) Adams (S), Iversen (O), Wiltshire (O), Chrzanowski (S) (ret), 61.02 (43-40).
14: Skornicki (O), Chrzanowski (S), Andersson (O), Korneliussen (S), Richardson (S) (excluded, two minutes), 61.30 (47-42).
15: Adams (S), Richardson (S), Watt (O), Skornicki (O), 60.30 (48-47).

[Genghis]

NO TIME TO ENJOY THE MEETING!

Wednesday, August 21, 2006
BELLE VUE 53 OXFORD 39 (Elite League B)
Belle Vue win aggregate point by 97-85.

REPORT BY: Rob Peasley

WEATHER: Stayed dry.
TRACK CONDITIONS: Fine.
REFEREE: Graham Flint.

Oxford Cheetahs put in a valiant attempt at Belle Vue, only for the Aces to have too much firepower in the latter stages of the meeting. The Cheetahs moved into an early 14-10 lead, and were hopeful of an upset that would have spiked the play-off hopes of their Manchester rivals. But Aces then got their act together, and eventually sealed all three Elite League points on offer with a 5-1 in Heat 14.
With a slight threat of rain, referee Graham Flint raced through the meeting at the request of the home promotion. All 15 heats of action, including two re-runs and a 10-minute track grade after heat 4, held in just 70 minutes! The match had been completed by 9.00pm, with the two-minute buzzer often sounding as soon as the previous race had finished, and on a couple of occasions, before the fourth-placed rider had crossed the finishing line!
It made the meeting hard to enjoy for spectators. Speedway fans are a sociable lot, and enjoy to discuss the meeting as it is progressing. And it couldn't have made a comfortable experience for the riders.
Todd Wiltshire got off to a flying start by winning HEAT 1. Team-mate Davey Watt was in second place early on, but Simon Stead flew inside him on the back straight of lap 2. Nevertheless, the Cheetahs started the evening with a heat advantage (2-4).
Stanislaw Burza, replacing the injured Eric Andersson, took his first-ever ride at Kirkmanshulme Lane in HEAT 2 and led from the tapes. However, he left a gap on the inside on the back straight and Phil Morris, on his return from injury, moved through into first place. Third-placed Tom P. Madsen then suffered an engine failure on the final bend of lap 2, and Lubos Tomicek took third as a result, as the heat was shared (5-7).
HEAT 3 saw Joe Screen win his opening outing from David Howe & Adam Skornicki, with fourth-placed Kenneth Bjerre briefly threatening Skornicki on the opening circuit (8-10).
In HEAT 4, Oxford guest Adam Shields got the drop on Jason Crump and then Burza got inside Crump on the second bend. Crump blasted around Burza after a lap to regain second place, and then closed in on Shields. However, despite having Crump all over him on the final lap, Shields held on to win the race. Crump had scored three maximums against Oxford in 2006, but Shields had made sure he didn't collect a fourth, and more importantly, Oxford moved into a four-point lead (10-14).
Screen & Bjerre gated in HEAT 5. Wiltshire challenged Bjerre early on, but started to drop back with a sick engine and eventually finished in fourth behind team-mate Watt, as the Aces levelled the scores (15-15).
Wright was first away in HEAT 6, while close behind, Stead & Shields battled for second place, exchanging places three times, before Stead came out on top. Shields tried to hit back on the opening bends of lap 2, but misjudged his attempted move and fell, with the following Tomicek also brought down. Both Oxford riders were soon to their feet, while referee Graham Flint decided to award the race as a 5-1 to the Aces (20-16).
Crump led HEAT 7 from tapes-to-flag, while Howe worked hard to come out on top in an early battle for second place with Morris. Skornicki then flew inside Morris after a lap, before Morris fell and remounted on the second bend of lap 2. Morris then remounted, but retired at the halfway stage of the race (23-19).
Madsen briefly led in HEAT 8, but Watt streaked around him on the second bend and then won the race by a mile. Burza passed Wright early on, and then started to challenge Madsen. However, Burza got a little too enthusiastic in his attempts to pass Madsen, drifted wide on the second bend of the final lap, with Wright spotting an opportunity and roaring inside Burza down the back straight to regain third place (26-22).
Shields gated in HEAT 9 ahead of Screen, while Bjerre held off an early challenge from Tomicek for third place. Shields then came under a fair amount of pressure from both Bjerre & Stead, but held them off to win the race (29-25).
In HEAT 10, Wright & Stead led all the way to take a 5-1 from Howe & Skornicki (34-26). Watt made a good gate in HEAT 11, but Crump moved past on the second bend and then won with ease. Morris moved past Wiltshire at the same point to take third, and Wiltshire tried hard to hit back, but Morris held on, as the Aces extended their lead to 10 points (38-28).
With the meeting cracking on at a ridiculous pace, Oxford team manager Aaron Lanney barely had time to get the black & white helmet colour on David Howe's head in HEAT 12. Howe was first from the tapes, but Bjerre came steaming under him on the third bend. Nevertheless, with Burza in third place, the Cheetahs pulled two points back with a 5-3 advantage (41-33).
Wiltshire was the early lead in HEAT 13, but Crump was now looking in unstoppable mood and flew around Wiltshire after half-a-lap, while Wiltshire then held onto second place ahead of Stead in a 4-2 to the Aces (45-35).
Aaron Lanney requested a little extra time for Burza in HEAT 14, but the request was turned down, and Burza was excluded under the two-minute time allowance. The referee then put the riders straight back on two minutes, despite the fact that the Oxford management had still to make the decision to replace Burza or put him back in off a 15m handicap! Tomicek was then put into the race, but a fresh two minutes was not issued, and Tomicek only just made it onto the track in time! With Adam Skornicki out on double points, Oxford needed a 8-1 from the race to stay in the match. But firstly Screen & Morris gated, then Skornicki dived under Morris on the third turn and Morris fell. There had been contact, and Skornicki was excluded from the re-run, where the Aces took a decisive 5-1 that also clinched all three points for the Aces (50-36).
Watt finished his evening on a high by winning HEAT 15, while Shields held second place early on. However, Screen got inside Shields on the back straight of lap 2, then Stead battled around Shields on the fourth bend of lap 3, as the evening finished with a 3-3 (53-39).
The sheer pace this meeting was held at made it hard to enjoy. In particular, Heats 5 to 14 were held at a breakneck pace, without a single breather, and there were moans from both sets of supporters.
Davey Watt enjoyed a good meeting, top scoring for the Cheetahs with 10 points. Adam Shields deserved more than six points, while Stanislaw Burza was lively on his first-ever appearance at the track.

BELLE VUE 53
Simon Stead 9+2 (5), James Wright 6+2 (4), Kenneth Bjerre 7+1 (4), Joe Screen 12+1 (5), Jason Crump 11 (4), Phil Morris 6+1 (4), Tom P. Madsen 2 (4).
Team manager: Ian Thomas.

OXFORD 39
Todd Wiltshire 5 (4), Davey Watt 10 (5), David Howe 9 (4) (incl. 4-point tactical ride), Adam Skornicki 2+2 (4) (incl. 0-point tactical ride), Adam Shields (guest for Ales Dryml) 6 (5), Lubos Tomicek 3+1 (4), Stanislaw Burza 4+1 (4).
Team manager: Aaron Lanney.

HEAT DETAILS:
1: (re-run) Wiltshire (O), Stead (B), Watt (O), Wright (B), 59.0 (2-4).
2: Morris (B), Burza (O), Tomicek (O), Madsen (B) (ret), 61.1 (5-7).
3: Screen (B), Howe (O), Skornicki (O), Bjerre (B), 59.5 (8-10).
4: Shields (O), Crump (B), Burza (O), Madsen (B), 60.3 (10-14).
5: Screen (B), Bjerre (B), Watt (O), Wiltshire (O), 59.1 (15-15).
6: Stead (B), Wright (B), Tomicek (O), Shields (O) (fell, excluded), awarded - no time (20-16).
7: Crump (B), Howe (O), Skornicki (O), Morris (B) (fell, remounted, ret), 58.9 (23-19).
8: Watt (O), Madsen (B), Wright (B), Burza (O), 59.8 (26-22).
9: Shields (O), Bjerre (B), Screen (B), Tomicek (O), 60.3 (29-25).
10: Wright (B), Stead (B), Howe (O), Skornicki (O), 60.4 (34-26).
11: Crump (B), Watt (O), Morris (B), Wiltshire (O), 59.8 (38-28).
12: Bjerre (B), Howe (O) (TR), Burza (O), Madsen (B), 60.1 (41-33).
13: Crump (B), Wiltshire (O), Stead (B), Shields (O), 59.3 (45-35).
14: (re-run) Screen (B), Morris (B), Tomicek (O), Skornicki (O) (TR) (excluded, unfair riding), Burza (O) (excluded, two minutes), 61.8 (50-36).
15: Watt (O), Screen (B), Stead (B), Shields (O), 60.2 (53-39).

[Genghis]

HAMMERS HAMMERED!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006
OXFORD 64 ARENA ESSEX 26 (Elite League A)
Oxford win aggregate point by 117-65

REPORT BY: Rob Peasley

WEATHER: Fine - the predicted rain held off.
TRACK CONDITIONS: Excellent - with the plenty of grip.
MAN OF THE MATCH: David Howe.
REFEREE: Frank Ebdon.

If this had been a boxing match, it would have been stopped after six heats, as Oxford ripped apart Arena Essex to take a fifth successive home win and ensure that the Hammers remain firmly bottom of the Elite League table.
None of the current Oxford side had scored maximums for the Cheetahs in 2006 prior to this meeting - with the departed Tony Rickardsson and guest Chris Louis the only previous maximum men. However, Todd Wiltshire, Adam Skornicki and David Howe were all unbeaten by an Arena rider and all three picked up paid maximums - with Skornicki, in particular, very pleased with what was only has second ever maximum in British Speedway.
The Cheetahs got off to a blistering start. Davey Watt & Todd Wiltshire led from tapes-to-flag in HEAT 1, and Watt registered the fastest four laps around Oxford since 2003 with a time of 57.86 seconds, even beating the early season times of Tony Rickardsson. Meanwhile, the Arena pair of Mikael Max and Cowley track specialist Edward Kennett (guesting for the injured Paul Hurry) languished at the back (5-1).
HEAT 2 & HEAT 3 provided more of the same, with the Oxford boys too sharp at the tapes and then pulling away, as both Eric Andersson & Lubos Tomicek (10-2) and then David Howe & Adam Skornicki (15-3) registered comfortable maximum heat wins.
For a while, it looked like HEAT 4 could be another Oxford 5-1. Adam Shields (guesting for Ales Dryml) & Eric Andersson got out in front, but Andersson soon came under pressure from Joonas Kylmakorpi. Kylmakorpi charged under Andersson after two laps, before Andersson tried to hit back on the outside on the second bend of lap 3. However, Andersson got too wide and fell, and the race had to be stopped. Despite race-leader Shields being very close, if not past, the last-lap flag at the time of stoppage, referee Frank Ebdon ordered a re-run. Nevertheless, Shields led the re-run all the way from Kylmakorpi & Andreas Messing, to open his night with a win (18-6).
Skornicki & Howe led in HEAT 5, with Steve Johnston closing in on Howe as the race progressed. Johnston got close to the inside of Howe after three laps, then tried again on the second bend of the final lap. However, Johno got out of shape and flew off the track onto the centre green, as the Cheetahs took another 5-1 (23-7).
Watt & Wiltshire gated in HEAT 6, but Wiltshire got out of the shape on the second bend and drifted wide, allowing Henning Bager to get inside him on the back straight. However, Wiltshire soon hit back, powering inside Bager at the completion of a lap to reclaim second place. Meanwhile, Kylmakorpi looked out of sorts at the back, going very wide on the opening corners, before eventually pulling up on the third lap (28-8).
Steve Johnston became the first Arena rider to make the gate in HEAT 7, leading Shields into the first bend, while Tomicek moved inside Max coming out of the second bend to take third place. With all four riders close on the racetrack, Shields made a mistake on the fourth bend, going wide and slipped from second to fourth. Tomicek was then very close to the inside of race-leader Johnston for a couple of laps, but unable to get through, as the Hammers took a 4-2 in what proved to be their only heat advantage of the night (30-12).
Messing threatened on the inside on the opening bends of HEAT 8, but Watt & Andersson powered around to take the lead. Kennett was soon on Andersson's tail, and had him lined up for an outside move on the second bend of lap 2, when Andersson locked up, allowing Messing inside Andersson at the same time as Oxford's young Swede dropped from second to fourth. A lap later, Andersson again made a mistake on the second turn, this time falling and remounting. Meanwhile Watt took his third heat win of the night (33-15).
Kylmakorpi was nominated as a tactical ride in HEAT 9, but Skornicki outgated him, then second-placed Kylmakorpi then himself under increasing pressure from Howe. Kylmakorpi looked to have done enough to hold on, but Howe continued to press him, and Kylmakorpi went wide on the third turn of the final lap and Howe moved inside to take second place. Kylmakorpi then fought to regain control of his bike, but ended up crashing into the fence on the final corner, as team-mate Bager took third place. It proved to be Kylmakorpi's final ride of the evening, as he subsequently withdrew with a recurrence of his shoulder injury (38-16).
Wiltshire led HEAT 10 from start-to-finish, but Watt suffered his first defeat of the night, as Max got the edge on him from the tapes and then Johnston came around him on the second bend, as Watt found himself squeezed out. Watt then tried to get inside Johnston, but made a mistake on the final bend of lap 3 and lost too much ground (41-19).
Shields gated in HEAT 11 ahead of Kennett, while Bager moved around Tomicek on the second turn to take third. Kennett wasn't riding at all well, and by the second bend of lap 2, at which point Tomicek moved inside him, he had been relegated to fourth place. Oxford took a 4-2 and were mathematically certain of all three points, despite there still being four races to go! (45-21).
Johnston took a tactical ride in HEAT 12, but he was last from the tapes and then unable to make an impression. In the meantime, Howe led, while Andersson resisted pressure from Bager to hold onto second place, as the Cheetahs took yet another 5-1, heading into a later than usual interval break due to the threat of rain (50-22).
Arena boss Ronnie Russell was running out of options and found himself forced to track both reserves in HEAT 13. It meant a comfortable 5-1 for Shields & Wiltshire, after Shields had resisted early pressure from Bager (55-23).
Max gated in HEAT 14, but Skornicki went under him in determined fashion on the third turn - Skornicki was after a maximum! Max then found himself under pressure from Tomicek, while closing in on Skornicki at one point, but the riders held their positions as the race ended as a 4-2 to Oxford (59-25).
Wiltshire & Skornicki then took a convincing 5-1 from HEAT 15, to complete their maximums, and take Oxford's NINTH 5-1 heat advantage of the night! (64-26).
So, a night where you enjoyment of the meeting depended on who you supported. A nightmare for the poor Arena fans, probably a bit too one-sided for the neutrals (although some of the racing was very entertaining) and an enjoyable night to be an Oxford supporter.
Great to see three of the Oxford lads scoring maximums, while Davey Watt & Adam Shields also enjoyed fine evenings, with only one blot each on the respective copybooks. Yet more proof that we are now a real force to be reckoned with at Cowley - with Wolverhampton lined up to be our next victims at Sandy Lane next Thursday!

OXFORD 64
Todd Wiltshire 11+4 (5) (PAID MAXIMUM), Davey Watt 9 (4), David Howe 10+2 (4) (PAID MAXIMUM), Adam Skornicki 14+1 (5) (PAID MAXIMUM), Adam Shields (guest for Ales Dryml) 9 (4), Lubos Tomicek 6+1 (4), Eric Andersson 5+1 (4).
Team manager: Aaron Lanney.

ARENA ESSEX 26
Leigh Lanham (R/R), Edward Kennett (guest for Paul Hurry) 3 (5), Steve Johnston 4+1 (6) (incl. 0-point tactical ride), Mikael Max 8 (6), Joonas Kylmakorpi 2 (3) (incl. 0-point tactical ride), Henning Bager 7 (6), Andreas Messing 2+2 (5).
Team manager: Ronnie Russell.

HEAT DETAILS:
1: Watt (O), Wiltshire (O), Max (A) (R/R), Kennett (A), 57.86 (5-1).
2: Andersson (O), Tomicek (O), Bager (A), Messing (A), 59.59 (10-2).
3: Howe (O), Skornicki (O), Max (A), Johnston (A), 59.77 (15-3).
4: (Re-run) Shields (O), Kylmakorpi (A), Messing (A), Andersson (O) (fell, excluded), 59.70 (18-6).
5: Skornicki (O), Howe (O), Kennett (A), Johnston (A) (R/R) (ret - after leaving track), 59.96 (23-7).
6: Watt (O), Wiltshire (O), Bager (A), Kylmakorpi (A) (ret), 59.49 (28-8).
7: Johnston (A), Tomicek (O), Max (A), Shields (O), 60.62 (30-12).
8: Watt (O), Kennett (A), Messing (A), Andersson (O) (fell, remounted), 60.46 (33-15).
9: Skornicki (O), Howe (O), Bager (A), Kylmakorpi (A) (TR) (fell), 59.49 (38-16).
10: Wiltshire (O), Max (A), Johnston (A), Watt (O), 59.83 (41-19).
11: Shields (O), Bager (A) (R/R), Tomicek (O), Kennett (A), 60.42 (45-21).
12: Howe (O), Andersson (O), Bager (A), Johnston (A) (TR), 59.86 (50-22).
13: Shields (O), Wiltshire (O), Bager (A) (R/R), Messing (A), 60.24 (55-23).
14: Skornicki (O), Max (A), Tomicek (O), Messing (A), 60.87 (59-25).
15: Skornicki (O), Wiltshire (O), Max (A), Johnston (A), 60.89 (64-26).

[Genghis]

CHEETAHS GIVE PANTHERS A FRIGHT

Thursday, August 31, 2006
PETERBOROUGH 55 OXFORD 34 (Elite League B)

REPORT BY: Rob Peasley.

Oxford Cheetahs gave Elite League favourites Peterborough the fright of their lives in last night's encounter at the East Of England Showground.

The Cheetahs stormed into a 13-5 lead after three heats, to leave the home team shell-shocked. And Oxford still led 25-23 after eight races, before the Panthers ran riot in the closing stages, after a catalogue of misfortune befall Oxford.

With no suitable guest rider available, Oxford used No. 8 Stan Burza in place of the injured Ales Dryml.

Hans Andersen, riding high in the Grand Prix series, won the opening race, but with Todd Wiltshire & Davey Watt packing the minor places, the race was shared.

Lubos Tomicek & Eric Andersson then slammed in a 5-1 in heat 2 to take the Cheetahs into an early four-point lead.

And then Cheetahs had a stroke of good fortune in heat 3 when race leader Niels-Kristian Iversen suffered an engine failure, allowing David Howe & Adam Skornicki to take a further maximum heat advantage.

The Panthers hit back with a 5-1 in heat 4. But Oxford then extended their lead back to six points, after Watt & Wiltshire took a 4-2 in heat 5, with Richard Hall storming around Wiltshire on the final bend to deny the Oxford captain a second place.

The home side took a 5-1 from heat 6, before Howe won heat 7 as the scoreline moved to 22-20 in Oxford's favour.

An overkeen Eric Andersson nudged the tapes in heat 8, then his replacement Tomicek suffered an engine failure in the re-run. But Watt won the race to keep Oxford two points in front.

Peterborough took the lead for the first time on the night in heat 9. Eric Andersson lifted on the second turn, and Iversen came through to join Jensen for a 5-1 to the Panthers.

Hans Andersen & Ulrich Ostergaard took a 4-2 from heat 10, with the hitherto unbeaten Howe trailing in fourth.

Wiltshire led heat 11 after a superb outside sweep around Jesper B. Jensen, but Watt fell trying to go around Jensen on the third turn and the race had to be stopped. Wiltshire seemed all set to win the re-run, but he suffered an engine failure on the third lap, forcing his retirement from the race and gifting the Panthers a 5-0.

Wiltshire, having blown up both bikes, then withdrew from the meeting, while the Panthers scored two 5-1s and two 4-2s from the final four races to leave them as 21-point victors.

Peterborough: Andersen 11+1, Ostergaard 5+1, rider replacement, Iversen 6+1, Jensen 12+2, Hall 14+1, Swiderski 7+2. 55 pts.
Oxford: Wiltshire 3, Watt 7+1, Howe 7, Skornicki 4+1, Burza 0, Tomicek 4, Andersson 9+1. 34pts.

HEAT DETAILS:
Heat 1: Andersen, Wiltshire, Watt, Ostergaard (fell), 63.0.
Heat 2: (re-run) Tomicek, Andersson, Hall, Swiderski, 64.0.
Heat 3: Howe, Skornicki, Hall, Iversen (ret), 64.4.
Heat 4: Jensen, Swiderski, Andersson, Burza, 64.0.
Heat 5: (re-run) Watt, Hall, Wiltshire, Swiderski, Iversen (exc, 2 min), 63.3.
Heat 6: Ostergaard, Andersen, Tomicek, Burza, 63.5.
Heat 7: Howe, Hall, Jensen, Skornicki, 63.8.
Heat 8: (re-run) Watt, Swiderski, Ostergaard, Tomicek (ret), Andersson (exc, tapes), 62.9.
Heat 9: Jensen, Iversen, Andersson, Tomicek, 63.7.
Heat 10: Andersen, Skornicki, Ostergaard, Howe, 63.3.
Heat 11: (re-run) Jensen, Hall, Wiltshire (ret), Watt (f, exc), 65.1.
Heat 12: Iversen, Swiderski, Howe (t/r), Tomicek (ret), 63.9.
Heat 13: Andersen, Jensen, Andersson, Burza, 64.3.
Heat 14: Hall, Andersson, Iversen, Skornicki (t/r), 64.7.
Heat 15: Hall, Andersson, Swiderski, Burza, 63.9.