REPORT: Cheetahs just lose out in tight meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium to Edinburgh

SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies suffered the agony of a 44-45 home defeat to the Edinburgh Monarchs in a desperately close Cab Direct Championship match at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last night (Wednesday).

It was a fascinating and entertaining meeting with some top-notch racing which was not decided until a last-heat decider in Heat 15, but a frustrating defeat for Cheetahs, who were so close to snatching victory in the closing stages after battling back from nine points behind.

Heat 3 proved key to the outcome. There was contact between Mitch McDiarmid and Paco Castagna on the second turn. Many referees would have allowed all four riders back, but McDiarmid was excluded. In the re-run, Jenkins fell on the first lap, leading to both Edinburgh riders slowing expecting a stoppage. But the race continued with Jenkins remounting in third. Unfortunately Jenkins crashed again – with more impact on this occasion – into the air fence on the final lap and the race ended as a 5-0 to Monarchs.

Jenkins missed his second outing in Heat 5 with an injury to his groin, but bravely came back out to join McDiarmid for a 5-1 in Heat 9, as Cheetahs took the first of two successive 5-1s as they moved to just one point behind.

The second of those in Heat 10 was a thriller. While Sam Masters was out front, Luke Killeen was involved in a battle for second place for Edinburgh skipper Paco Castagna. On the third lap, Castagna moved inside Killeen on the second bend, only for Killeen to keep it wound on and squeeze back around the Italian in a brave move on the fourth bend.

Cameron Heeps made his return from injury after his horrific crash at Cowley three weeks ago. After a third place in Heat 4, the Australian was unbeaten thereafter, including inflicting the first defeat on Edinburgh No 1 Victor Palovaara in Heat 11.

Edinburgh moved back five points in front with a 5-1 in Heat 12, but Heeps got the better of Palovaara in the early stages of Heat 13 to join skipper Masters for a 5-1, as again the scores moved to just one point apart.

Monarchs held a 5-1 from the gate in Heat 14, but McDiarmid forced a path around Jonatan Grahn early on, and then Killeen found a way inside the Swede with a lap remaining. In a tense final lap, Killeen came out on top, as Cheetahs stayed just one point behind Monarchs.

Heeps would have been the natural choice to join Masters in the final race, but was struggling for 100 per cent fitness and had needed some assistance to get off the bike following Heat 13. With the lively Killeen having already taken all seven outings, 17-year-old McDiarmid was placed in the race.

From the start, Cheetahs had the 4-2 they required. But Kye Thomson bustled inside McDiarmid on the fourth turn, and the 3-3 meant that Monarchs held on and took a 45-44 victory.

Masters top scored with 14 for Cheetahs – dropping a single point to Palovaara in Heat 1 – while Killeen (9+2) and Heeps (9+1) were both paid for double figures.

There’s no doubt that Cheetahs missed Jonas Knudsen and Francis Gusts, both riding in Denmark. While replacements Luke Harrison and Jody Scott could not be faulted for effort, both scored just a point apiece.

Cheetahs’ team manager Peter Schroeck said: “Of course, in some ways it’s worse to lose by one point at home than 20 points because it’s so deflating when you’re so close to victory and miss out.

“But, at the same time, I could not fault for the boys for effort tonight. They battled over every point but we just fell short. We had a bit of bad luck again – I feel I must have run over a black cat at some point. Cam isn’t quite 100 per cent, which is why he didn’t go out in Heat 15, while Jordan also took a knock tonight.

“We did everything we could and the boys raced their hearts out – the fans certainly went home entertained tonight, even if we couldn’t quite take victory at the end. We will regroup for the meeting at Scunthorpe on Friday, where we are due to track a full team.”

Both Cheetahs and the unbeaten Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs are involved in a double-header at Scunthorpe on Friday, commencing at 7pm in North Lincolnshire.

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires take on the Birmingham Brummies in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash next Thursday (June 26) at 7.30pm. 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 44: Sam Masters 14, Luke Harrison 1, Jordan Jenkins 4, Mitch McDiarmid 6+1, Cameron Heeps 9+1, Jody Scott 1, Luke Killeen 9+2.

Edinburgh Monarchs 45: Victor Palovaara 11, Kye Thomson 6+3, Justin Sedgmen 6+2, Paco Castagna 8+1, Michael Palm Toft 5, Jonathan Grahn 9+1, Jordy Loftus 0.

PHOTO: Cameron Heeps rounds Victor Palovaara in Heat 13 (pic: Steve Edmunds)