PREVIEW: Spires back in business with key home clash at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium

BETGOODWIN Oxford Spires return to action for the first time in over a fortnight when they host King’s Lynn Stars in a crucial ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium on Thursday evening (June 12) at 7.30pm.

King’s Lynn and Oxford are currently tied on six points in the league table, and whoever wins the meeting will occupy fifth place, one place short of the play-off qualification places.

It’s a big week ahead for Charles Wright. With the publication of the June Green Sheet Averages, he moves up to No 1 in Spires’ line-up, while Stockport-based Wright is the wildcard for both British Grand Prix rounds at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester this weekend. Wright gained the double wildcard spot after finishing second in a thrilling final race in the British Final at the NSS in May.

Spires are at full strength, while Stars bring in Kyle Howarth for the injured Ben Cook. Jody Scott, the skipper of the Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs, makes his debut for King’s Lynn as their Rising Star in place of Luke Harrison. Harrison was only kept in Stars’ line-up for a single meeting on Monday, after he was brought in at the expense of Ashton Boughen.

Oxford manager Peter Schroeck says: “The break for the Spires has given us a chance to have a re-set before we get going with the rest of the season.

“I still believe that we have a good team if everyone clicks on the same night. We just need to find some consistency, starting against King’s Lynn. Our next three meetings with the Spires are at home at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium and we need to start getting into the habit of winning our home meetings.

“With Charles moving to No 1, we have changed the riding order. Charles and Maciej rode well together for much of last season and this was an opportunity to put them back together.

“It’s going to be quite a week for Charles, since he rides in both the British Grand Prix rounds in Manchester on Friday and Saturday. He has been one of the positives for Spires this season – he’s been our most consistent rider. Charles puts everything into his riding and I hope he enjoys his weekend and shows what he can do against the best in the world.”

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

Admission is available at the early bird price of £23 for all adults, which increases to £25 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.

Meanwhile, both Erik Riss of the Spires and Francis Gusts of the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies have qualified for the Grand Prix Challenge in Holsted, Denmark in August. Gusts finished runner-up in Lonigo, Italy on Saturday, while Riss was fifth in Abensburg, Germany on Monday. Both are just five rides away from the 2026 Grand Prix series, with the top four from Holsted qualifying.

Mitch McDiarmid has been handed one of the wildcard slots for this year’s three-round SGP2 (World Under-21 Championship) series. The 17-year-old Australian just missed out on an automatic place, finishing fifth in his qualifier in Debrecen, Hungary on Saturday, after being edged out in a three-man run-off for the final two places – and he is therefore highly deserving of a wildcard slot. The winner of the series becomes 2025 World Under-21 Champion.

Teams:

BetGoodwin Oxford Spires: Charles Wright, Maciej Janowski (C), Craig Cook, Rohan Tungate, Erik Riss, Peter Kildemand, Luke Killeen (RS).

King’s Lynn PSH Environmental Stars: Richard Lawson, Kyle Howarth (G), Nicolai Klindt (C), Niels-Kristian Iversen, Chris Harris, Jan Kvech, Jody Scott (RS).

(Photo by LES AUBREY)