REACTION: “The shoulder is feeling good – it’s feeling strong. After a few weeks out, it’s about getting my confidence back and tonight has done me the world of good.”

LEWIS KERR stole the show with a full maximum, as Monarch Oxford Cheetahs regained top spot in the Cab Direct Championship table after an emphatic 52-37 victory at Edinburgh last night (Friday).

Oxford collected all three league points available, since they also won the aggregate bonus point by 106-73.

Monarchs took a 4-2 in Heat 1 and a somewhat fortunate 5-1 in Heat 15, but Cheetahs dominated the middle 13 races.

Oxford took control of the meeting with a 5-1 from reserves Cameron Heeps and Luke Killeen in Heat 2. Across the meeting, Cheetahs outscored Monarchs at reserve by 13 (paid 16) to one.

Cheetahs then edged six points ahead, before a decisive Heat 9, in which they collected a 5-0 and extended their lead to 11 points. The race had to be started no fewer than four times. Skipper Scott Nicholls and Killeen held a 5-1 when Kye Thomson took a tumble on the fourth turn and was excluded. Second time around, Nicholls was warned for moving at the start, while the third attempt saw Bastian Borke lift on the first turn, take an awkward spill and also wipe out Killeen in the process. With Borke also excluded, Nicholls and Killeen went through the formality of recording the 5-0, although Killeen had picked up damage to his fingers when he was taken off.

In Heat 10, Kerr won the battle of the two unbeaten riders when he sliced inside Richie Worrall on the back straight, as he and Jordan Jenkins took a 4-2.

A further 4-2 from Sam Masters and Henry Atkins in Heat 11 extended Oxford’s lead to 15 points. Kerr made sure of victory when he defeated Worrall – taking a tactical substitute ride – after another great battle between the two riders in Heat 12.

A sign of Oxford’s dominance was that they provided 11 heat winners. Meanwhile, excluding guest riders Worrall and Drew Kemp, the only Monarch to win a race was Josh Pickering in Heat 15. That followed a somewhat contentious exclusion for Masters for a second warning for moving – watching the replays, the Oxford No 1 was punished for simply making fast starts and wasn’t moving early.

Kerr scored a perfect 12, including twice out-battling Worrall, while Masters collected 11 – apart from his exclusion, his only dropped point was to Worrall in Heat 1.

Nicholls scored nine – he was overtaken by Worrall in Heat 6, but produced a great third bend in Heat 13 that took him past Worrall and almost Pickering too, as he took third and joined Masters for a 4-2.

Heeps scored 7+1 on his former home track, while Killeen (6+2) improved substantially on his previous two appearances at Armadale, where he scored one point on each occasion.

Jenkins (5) won Heat 14 and was rewarded with a place in Heat 15. He suffered a fall, but was fine afterwards, but he is currently counting the cost, after blowing up his No 1 engine at Sheffield on Thursday evening. Atkins (2+1) made changes to his machinery during the night and beat Clegg in his closing two outings.

Lewis Kerr said: “All the boys chipped in tonight and it was a great performance to collect all three points on offer and move back to the top of the league.

“It’s always nice when the other side brings in a tactical sub into a race, and you end up winning that race and beating the tactical sub. I had a good couple of battles with Richie Worrall during the night and it was nice to come out on top.

“Things were working well for me tonight. The bike was working and I could put it where I wanted and I had some good speed.

“The shoulder is feeling good – it’s feeling strong. After a few weeks out, it’s about getting my confidence back and tonight has done me the world of good.

“We’re ready for the rest of the season. We want to finish strong and win the league. If we keep on winning, we can finish top and hopefully make things a little easier for ourselves.”

Luke Killeen said: “I hurt my hand when I was taken off. It’s the same hand where I injured my wrist, but a different spot. It’s a bit awkward grabbing the clutch, because I had avoid holding it one way to not hurt my wrist but now if I hold it the other way I hurt my fingers.

“But I was happy with my evening. I felt I rode the bike well, while I had Scott Nicholls in my corner helping out my starts, so a big shout-out to him.

“I’ve been here twice at Edinburgh before, but not gone well, so it was great to come to the track for a third time and record my best score in the Championship to date.

“I’ll make sure I’m okay for Chargers’ meeting at Kent of Sunday. I’ll take a few painkillers, while I’ll have ice on my hand all the way home and hope that it’s okay in the morning.”

Edinburgh Monarchs 37: Richie Worrall 12+1, Drew Kemp 4, Kye Thomson 5+1, Benjamin Borke 4+2, Josh Pickering 11, Dayle Wood 0, Max Clegg 1.

Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 52: Sam Masters 11, Henry Atkins 2+1, Lewis Kerr 12, Jordan Jenkins 5, Scott Nicholls 9, Cameron Heeps 7+1, Luke Killeen 6+2