REPORT: Cheetahs off to a flyer, as Jenkins and Gilkes post maximums

SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies commenced their season with a convincing 55-35 victory over the Scunthorpe Scorpions in the MAXiCab Knockout Cup at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last night (Wednesday).

The result means Cheetahs have every chance of progress to the semi-finals when the two sides meet at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday, May 23 for the second leg.

The middle pair of Jordan Jenkins and Dan Gilkes were outstanding for Cheetahs, combining for three 5-1s, and both recorded 10+2 paid maximums. It didn’t matter whether the pair gated or not. Jenkins flew from fourth to second early in Heat 3, while both overhauled Jake Allen on the opening lap of Heat 9.

Gilkes completed his paid maximum by flying around the outside on the second bend of Heat 14 and then protecting Luke Killeen for a 5-1, as Killeen took a morale-boosting race win. While Gilkes made six guest appearances for Cheetahs in the closing stages of 2024 – as a guest for the injured Jenkins – this was his official debut for the club. Very few Oxford riders have scored a maximum on their club debut.

New skipper Sam Masters led by example and top-scored with 14 points. He won his opening four races, including combining with two 5-1s with new signing Jonas Knudsen, and Masters only missed out on a full maximum when he lost out to Steve Worrall in Heat 15. Masters passed Allen for second after a couple of laps, but ran out of time to overtake Worrall.

Cameron Heeps looked comfortable in the No 5 spot, had plenty of speed and overtook Simon Lambert to win Heat 7 and Worrall to take Heat 11. The Australian – who became a dad for the first time over the winter – scored 8+1.

Killeen scored eight points, while it finished 2-2 with Scunthorpe’s Zaine Kennedy in the battle between the two trump-card reserves.

Darryl Ritchings has returned to speedway this season with the Oxford Chargers, after a number of years away. He was given a late call-up, due to a delay in the visa for Cheetahs’ new Australian Mitch McDiarmid. Ritchings did his job by holding off Declan Kennedy for third place in Heat 2.

While Jordan Jenkins has posted maximums for Chargers before, this was his first-ever maximum at second tier level. It was also Gilkes’ first-ever maximum at this level.

Jenkins said: “Both the Cheetahs and also myself couldn’t have started the season any better than that. Tonight I was making some decent starts and enjoying it, while the team dug in and did the job.

“I was struggling at the beginning of last season and when that happens, you stop enjoying your racing. I changed things about too much last season, while this season I’ve gone back to basics. I’ve got some really good people around me this season, with Scott Nicholls, Paul Hurry, Mick and Aaron Smith and DWM. They’ve all got my best interests at heart.

“Dan Gilkes is a good rider, he knows where to ride on the track and he’s got it all under control. He’s very quick when he’s out in front and we are a strong pairing.

“We’ve still got a job to do and we won’t take it granted, but a 20-point lead is nice to take up to Scunthorpe next month. When we go up there, we’ll try to avoid last places and stop them coming back at us.”

The next action at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies take on their biggest rivals, the Poole Pirates in the BSN Series next Wednesday (April 16) at 7.30pm, with Cheetahs gunning for revenge after defeat to Pirates in both the play-off final and Knockout Cup final last October.

Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies 55: Sam Masters 14, Jonas Knudsen 4+2, Jordan Jenkins 10+2 (paid maximum), Dan Gilkes 10+2 (paid maximum), Cameron Heeps 8+1, Darryl Ritchings 1+1, Luke Killeen 8.

Scunthorpe Scorpions 35: Steve Worrall 9, Luke Harrison 4+1, Simon Lambert 2+2, Connor Mountain 5, Jake Allen 6+1, Declan Kennedy 2, Zaine Kennedy 7+1.

PHOTO: Dan Gilkes and Jordan Jenkins on a 5-1 – both riders posted their first-ever maximum at this level (pic: Les Aubrey)