PREVIEW: Cameron Heeps set to return, as Cheetahs seek victory against Edinburgh

SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies host Edinburgh Monarchs in the Cab Direct Championship at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium on Wednesday evening (June 18) at 7.30pm, in a meeting where three points – including the aggregate bonus point – are at stake.

Australian Cameron Heeps is due to return, following one of the most frightening crashes seen at Cowley.

The accident happened three weeks ago, in a home match against Scunthorpe. After contact from Zaine Kennedy, Heeps straightened up and smashed into the third bend fence at high speed. A hush descended over the venue, while there was amazement when, after medical treatment, the 29-year-old got to his feet and hobbled off the track.

With the Oxford safety fence doing its job, Heeps avoided any broken bones, but he was badly battered and bruised by the high-impact crash. A subsequent GoFundMe account was started by Oxford Speedway Supporters’ Club and – combined with a collection at the track – the Cameron Heeps Machinery Fund raised the magnificent sum of £3,214. Heeps said: “I can’t thank the supporters enough. It’s blown me away the support that I have at Oxford and the amount of money that the fans have raised for me. I’m a bit speechless, because I can’t say thank you enough.”

While Heeps is set to return, Cheetahs are missing both Jonas Knudsen and Francis Gusts, who have another racing commitments. Cheetahs bring in Luke Harrison at No 2 – who scored 5+1 for Glasgow in the same riding position a fortnight ago – plus Jody Scott at No 6, the skipper of the Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs. Scott is in a rich vein of form and has not even looked out of place in two appearances for King’s Lynn in the ultra-tough ROWE Motor Oil Premiership over the last week, scoring points in both meetings.

Cheetahs look potent at reserve, while further interest is added by 16-year-old Australian Jordy Loftus making his debut at No 7 for Monarchs. Loftus scored 10+3 for Monarchs Academy in the WSRA National League at Middlesbrough on Sunday in his first-ever meeting in British Speedway.

Oxford are chasing all three points against Edinburgh, as Monarchs won the corresponding clash in Scotland by 50-40, on a night Cheetahs were badly depleted due to World Championship commitments. A win – or even better a win combined with the aggregate bonus point – would propel Cheetahs into the upper reaches of the Cab Direct Championship table.

Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck said: “I believe Sam and the boys are fully capable of a positive result and taking all three points against Edinburgh at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium. It will be great to have Cameron Heeps back from injury, while I believe Mitch McDiarmid will take the move up from reserve in his stride.

“I had no hesitation in booking Jody Scott for the meeting – he’s come on so much as a rider this season, and of course, he remains a huge part of our club, as skipper of the Chargers. We should have a good reserve pairing, since Luke Killeen showed what he could against Glasgow in the last Cab Direct Championship meeting here.

“We’ve also got another Luke – Luke Harrison – riding for us against Monarchs. He’s another young rider who has grown in stature this season and I like his attitude.

“We know that SD Timmo Car Sales Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies are a good team – we showed that at the start of the season by reaching the semi-finals of both the BSN Series and the MAXiCab Knockout Cup. We’d like to make a statement against Monarchs and show what we are capable of.”

Cheetahs also ride at Scunthorpe on Friday, when they are set to track a full team. The fixture at Scunthorpe is a double-header also involving the unbeaten Chargers.

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

Admission is available at the early bird price of £21 for all adults, which increases to £23 on Race Day. All under-16s go free. A reminder that Oxford Speedway is online ticket sales only – tickets remain on sale on the website until the start-time of the meeting. Spectators are also reminded that they will need to pay £2 if they are planning to park in the Unipart car park.

Teams:

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies: Sam Masters (C), Luke Harrison (G), Jordan Jenkins, Mitch McDiarmid, Cameron Heeps, Jody Scott (G), Luke Killeen.

Edinburgh Stellar Monarchs: Victor Palovaara, Kye Thomson, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (C), Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus.

(PHOTO by Steve Edmunds)