REPORT: Oxford Chargers extend lead at top of table to five points, after completing double over Belle Vue Colts

REAL MINI COMPANY Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs increased their league at the top of the WSRA National League with a hard-fought 54-36 victory over Belle Vue Colts at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium yesterday afternoon (Sunday).

Victory – allied with the aggregate bonus point – takes Chargers five points clear of Leicester and Edinburgh. Chargers are looking to regain the title they previously won in 2023. Belle Vue may currently be bottom of the table, but showed plenty of fight on an entertaining afternoon of action.

Chargers were without injured duo Jacob Clouting and Arran Butcher. Guest Kai Ward pulled out, after his van could not be fixed in time, and instead fellow guest Jamie Halder was moved from No 3 to No 6 while Chargers used rider replacement for Clouting.

Chargers took the lead with two 4-2s in the opening two races, including skipper Jody Scott defeating opposing No 1 William Cairns in Heat 1. Halder overtook Harry Fletcher early in Heat 2, while Max Broadhurst fended off Billy Budd for third place.

Ashton Vale and Senna Summers looked set to post a 5-1 in Heat 3, but both got into difficulties on the second lap and Summers fell after spinning around, leaving Vale to fend off Jack Kingston.

Heat 4 had to be started three times. Freddy Hodder eventually swooped around Darryl Ritchings to win the race. In Heat 5, Vale overtook Jack Shimelt after two laps to take third and ensure the third of four successive shared races.

Chargers stretched their lead to six points, after a 4-2 to Ritchings and Halder in Heat 7.

Oxford recorded their first 5-1 of the afternoon in Heat 8. Broadhurst had already taken a couple of third places, and he shot of the gate, alongside Summers. Third-placed Jack Shimelt never looked like catching Broadhurst, who recorded his first paid win in the WSRA National League and the 20-year-old punched the air as he crossed the finishing line and his delight was also visible on his victory lap.

Chargers suffered a couple of two minute exclusions – to Halder and Summers in Heats 9 and 10 respectively. In the former race, Vale chopped under Hodder on the second bend, and Hodder had to work hard to pass Vale at the end of the second lap. Summers was re-instated in Heat 10 from a 15-metre handicap and took a point after a fall for Fletcher.

Heats 11 and 12 were shared, as Chargers remained ten points ahead. Scott beat Carins to the first corner in Heat 13, and then Ritchings flew around the outside on the second bend, to storm past both Cairns and Hodder, as Chargers’ leading pairing clinched victory with a 5-1.

An eventful Heat 14 saw Halder up front, while Vale moved around Fletcher around a lap. Vale then pressurized Kingston, and Kingston fell, leaving Chargers to take a second successive 5-1.

In Heat 15, Scott was looking to complete a hat-trick of three successive full 15-point maximums at Cowley for Chargers, but Cairns burst around him on the third bend, while Ritchings also overhauling Hodder on the opening lap, as the afternoon finished with a 3-3.

In addition to Scott top-scoring on 14 points, Vale (11+2), Ritchings (10+2) and guest Halder (10+1) were also all paid for double figures. Ritchings’ tally was all the more impressive, since he was carrying a leg injury picked up the previous evening at Plymouth while riding for Cheetahs, when he bounced off the fence, after being pushed wide by Tom Spencer.

Summers’ scoring was blunted by his Heat 3 fall and subsequent set-up issues on his spare bike, but he still won Heat 8 by a large margin to display his talents. Broadhurst collected 4+2 – his best meeting for Chargers to date.

17-year-old Ashton Vale (who scored 11+2) said: “I’m very happy with my afternoon. After my first couple of rides, we made a couple of change to the bike and after that, I felt more comfortable. I felt fast and it was good.

“I feel the season is going well for me. I’ve had a couple of bad meetings, but I’ve moved on from them. That’s how you progress and learn in speedway, you just have to keep on trying different things.

“We’re all really happy for Max Broadhurst today. I remember winning my first race down at Kent and it was an unreal feeling, so it was great he could take that paid win in Heat 8 – you could see what it meant to him.  

“It’s unreal that the Chargers have won six out of seven meetings. There’s a bit of banter with this side. We all get along and we always talk during meetings. We’re just a bunch of lads having fun. We’re in a good position, so we’ll just keep our heads screwed on and see how it goes.”

The next action at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies host Redcar Bears in the Cab Direct Championship on Wednesday, August 6 at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs 54: Jody Scott 14, Senna Summers 5, Jacob Clouting R/R, Ashton Vale 11+2, Darryl Ritchings 10+2, Jamie Halder 10+1, Max Broadhurst 4+2.

Belle Vue Colts 36: William Cairns 12, Jack Shimelt 2+1, Jack Kinsgston 8, Mason Watson R/R, Freddy Hodder 8, Harry Fletcher 6+2, Billy Budd 0.

PHOTO: William Cairns, Jody Scott and Senna Summers jet from the tapes in Heat 1 (photo: Les Aubrey)