REPORT: Precious bonus point for Spires
OXS Oxford Spires battled back from a poor start to take the aggregate bonus point in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership at King’s Lynn last night (Thursday). King’s Lynn Stars won 48-42 on the evening, while Spires took the aggregate point by 96-84.
As expected, Spires’ play-off hopes were mathematically extinguished last night. Belle Vue only needed to score 30 points at Ipswich to move out of range of Oxford. In the event, they won 49-41 at Foxhall Heath and clinched their play-off spot, where they will join Sheffield, Leicester and Ipswich.
That was out of Spires’ hands. But what they could achieve was to take at least one point at the Adrian Flux Arena to leave sixth-placed Stars with a mountain to catch Spires in fifth place.
Oxford were again forced into using rider replacement for Rohan Tungate. Tungate attempted to make a comeback in Sweden on Tuesday after a big crash in Poland on Saturday, but he is still not 100% fit.
Luke Killeen was also unable to take place his place after his crash at Oxford on Wednesday, although the good news is that Killeen has not broken any bones and is expected to return sooner rather than later.
Spires beat King’s Lynn by 54-36 at Oxford Stadium last week. But Stars opened with four successive heat advantages in Norfolk that cut the aggregate gap to just six points.
Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck wasted no time in introducing Maciej Janowski as a tactical substitute in Heat 5 and the Polish star joined Erik Riss for a 5-1.
Janowski also won Heat 6, after an exciting last bend surge around Grand Prix rider Jan Kvech. Spires’ guest Ben Trigger took a notable third after holding off Anders Rowe as Spires took a 4-2. Incidentally, Trigger received a £100 fine for cutting across the centre green during the meeting.
Janowski produced more magic in Heat 9, as he again produced a last bend overtake, this time rounding Patryk Wojdylo, having overtaken Simon Lambert in the same spot a lap earlier.
But otherwise the momentum seemed very much in the direction of King’s Lynn, as they moved ahead at 41-25 after 11 races, just two points behind on aggregate.
Spires’ skipper Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris has faced a difficult day. Wife Emma-Louise had suffered a nasty spider bite and he spent most of the day in hospital making sure she was okay. He then scored a single point from his opening four rides at King’s Lynn, including a nasty tumble in Heat 10.
But Harris is made of stern stuff and he responded with a crucial win in Heat 12, while Ashton Boughen picked up an important point in third.
Heat 13 was a cracking race. Janowski passed Kvech for third and closed in on second placed Richard Lawson. But Lawson then flew around race-leader Riss on the final bend and the race was shared as a 3-3.
Chares Wright and Ashton Boughen trapped in Heat 14. Boughen rode the outside line to perfection, while Wright kept one eye on the 17-year-old and blocked off Lewis Kerr on the final bend to ensure a 5-1 for Spires that clinched the bonus point.
Spires finished with a flourish in Heat 15, as both Harris and Janowski pushed inside Lawson on the opening lap, as Spires took a second successive 5-1.
A busy Janowski top scored for Spires once more with 14+2 from seven rides. The Pole is enjoying a fine finish to the season.
Ashton Boughen scored five points, including a win in his final outing in Heat 14, and said: “It’s good to help the team win the bonus point. I got better as the meeting went on. It was nice to win my last one. It was good team-riding from Charles (Wright) and we got the 5-1.
“I only live five minutes down the road, so this one is a nice drive home! I’ve got some friends and family here today and it’s enjoyable to have a strong finish to the meeting in front of them.
“I’m just learning things and figuring out the right thing to do at the right time. I celebrated my 17th birthday at Oxford on Wednesday and I’m happy how it’s all going. It’s going quick, but it’s going well at the same time.”
Spires complete their meetings in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership when they host in-form Leicester Lions at the Oxford Stadium next Thursday (August 29).
Before that, defending champions Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by SD Timmo Car Sales face league leaders Leicester Lion Cubs in what promises to be a pulsating meeting in the WSRA National League on Sunday (August 25), with Lion Cubs needing only a point to secure the NL title.
Tickets are on sale for both meetings at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Monarch Oxford Cheetahs’ trip to Glasgow tonight (Friday) was called off 8am this morning, due to overnight rain and a very poor forecast for the rest of the day in Scotland. A new date will be arranged in due course.
King’s Lynn Stars 48: Jan Kvech 12, Benjamin Basso R/R, Simon Lambert 2+1, Patryk Wojdylo 7, Richard Lawson 13, Lewis Kerr 8+1, Anders Rowe 6+3.
OXS Oxford Spires 42: Rohan Tungate R/R, Erik Riss 7+1, Chris Harris 7+1, Charles Wright 8+1, Maciej Janowski 14+2, Ashton Boughen 5, Ben Trigger 1.