Wednesday, February 18, 2026
OXFORD SPEEDWAY
CheetahsOxford Speedway

REPORT: Cheetahs return to winning ways

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SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies collected all three points – including the aggregate bonus point – with a 50-40 win over the Workington Comets in the Cab Direct Championship at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium yesterday evening (Sunday).

The victory put an end to a run of four successive defeats for Cheetahs. While they can no longer reach the Cab Direct Championship play-offs, they are still hunting silverware in the MAXiCab Knockout Cup and BSN Series, and returning to a winning mindset was important.

Oxford took control of the meeting with successive 5-1s from Jonas Knudsen and Luke Killeen in Heat 2 and Mitch McDiarmid and Jordan Jenkins in Heat 3.

Comets battled back to within two points, before another 5-1 from Killeen and Knudsen in Heat 8 was followed to 4-2s to Cheetahs in Heats 9 and 10, as the home side moved ten points clear at 35-25.

But Workington again hauled themselves back in contention and there were only four points in it with three races to go. Cameron Heeps had suffered a fall in Heat 11, but picked himself up to join skipper Sam Masters for a 5-1 in Heat 13.

Killeen had looked lively all evening and burst past Jye Etheridge to win Heat 14. Meanwhile, McDiarmid won a battle with impressive visitor Jacob Hook for third place, as Cheetahs clinched victory with a 4-2.

Comets had won the corresponding fixture at Northside by 49-41, so there was still the aggregate bonus point at stake. But Masters led Heat 15 all the way, as fifth-placed Cheetahs won 91-89 on aggregate and moved clear of the four teams below them in the Cab Direct Championship table.

Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “One win can lift the whole club and I believe that’s what happened tonight. I share the frustration of the supporters that things haven’t been going our way recently, and I hope everyone goes to work on Monday morning with a smile on their faces.

“We don’t put too much pressure on the riders, but when the team is losing, they start putting pressure on themselves. It was tough for them, travelling all the way back from Glasgow and riding again the next day. But they put the shift in and we deserved to win.

“It was great to get all three points, including the aggregate bonus point. I knew we could rely on Sam in Heat 15 and he did the business. I’m really pleased for Cam and Jordan, who played their part in our victory – this is a big boost to their confidence.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees Cheetahs entertain fierce rivals Poole Pirates on Wednesday evening (August 20) at 7.30pm, with Oxford gunning for revenge, after the corresponding fixture at Wimborne Road ended in controversy. Jacob Hook – on account of his 10+2 tally for Workington – has been booked by Cheetahs as the guest for the suspended Francis Gusts. Tickets are on sale at the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies 50: Sam Masters 13+1, Francis Gusts R/R, Jordan Jenkins 7+1, Mitch McDiarmid 8, Cameron Heeps 5, Luke Killeen 11+1, Jonas Knudsen 6+1.

Workington Comets 40: Troy Batchelor 11+1, Zaine Kennedy 2, Antti Vuolas 8+1, Jye Etheridge 5, Tate Zischke 4, Jacob Hook 10+2, Vinnie Foord 0.

PHOTO: Sam Masters clinched the aggregate bonus point by fending pff Troy Batchelor in Heat 15 (Image: Steve Edmunds)