REPORT: Cheetahs take resounding victory over Plymouth at BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium

SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs put in an excellent team performance to score a 55-35 victory over Plymouth Gladiators in the BSN Series at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last night (Wednesday).

Oxford can qualify for the semi-finals of the BSN Series with a win or draw in their final qualifying match in the Southern Section at Poole next Wednesday (April 29).

Cheetahs quickly took charge of the meeting with successive 5-1s from Dayle Wood and Darryl Ritchings in Heat 2, and Anders Rowe and Mitch McDiarmid in Heat 3.

Both races were eventful. Plymouth’s Daniel Klima lucky to get back into Heat 2, after a fall on the first bend, but Wood and Ritchings – on a clear 5-1 at the time of stoppage – repeated the dose in the re-run. Plymouth’s new signing Anze Grmek trapped in Heat 3, but was quickly overtaken by Rowe, and fell shortly after being passed by McDiarmid on the third lap, with the race being awarded.

Cheetahs continued to pile in the heat advantages, while Luke Killeen and skipper Sam Masters added another 5-1 in Heat 6. A terrific Heat 8 saw Killeen force his way under both Gladiators in a single move, as he joined Wood for another maximum heat advantage.

Plymouth team manager Garry May placed Danny King into Heat 9 as a tactical substitute. Scott Nicholls was the early leader, but overhauled by Rowe and McDiarmid threatened to join him up front, only for King to round him, as the race ended as a 3-3.

A further 5-1 from Killeen and Masters in Heat 10 saw Cheetahs go into the interval with a whopping 41-19 advantage and only three points behind on aggregate, despite their heavy defeat at Plymouth on April 11.

Plymouth hit back with a couple of 5-1s of their own, including a fine ride by former Oxford skipper Nicholls to use the outside line to move past Masters and Nick Morris to join King up front in Heat 13. These two heat advantages made sure of the aggregate point for Gladiators.

McDiarmid moved from last to first over the outside in fantastic style on the opening lap of Heat 14, while Killeen passed Danny King in equally impressive fashion in Heat 15 to take third place. Masters inflicted a revenge win over old team-mate Nicholls in Heat 15, as Cheetahs concluded the night with a couple of 4-2s.

18-year-old Mitch McDiarmid scored 8+1, twice moving from last to first in Heats 5 and 14. He said: “In Heat 5, I felt I was a couple of bike lengths behind the other riders going into the first bend, but I got around the outside. It felt pretty cool going around everyone in Heat 14, although I did lift on the fourth bend – I didn’t mean to do that wheelie. But I made it work.

“The only mistake I made was riding the inside line in my third race. I was told it was grippy on the inside, but it didn’t quite work and I stayed on that line for too long. I’m still figuring out things like gearing, because the track is different from last season. Overall I was happy with my night.

“All the boys were hungry. We really wanted the win, and it was good speedway and the track allowed us to race. It’s taken us a couple of meetings, but we’re now really starting to click as a team. We’re improving every meeting.

“Everyone is working together really well. We’re all learning. I’m trying to team-ride more this season. In the past, I’ve been largely looking after myself, but this year I’m looking out more for my team-mate.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium takes place on Sunday afternoon (April 26) at 3pm and sees the Real Mini Company – the defending WSRA National League champions – make their opening appearance of the season against the Middlesbrough Tigers.

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

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs 55: Sam Masters 10+2, Luke Killeen 9+2, Anders Rowe 10, Mitch McDiarmid 8+1, Nick Morris (guest) 6, Daryl Ritchings 4+2, Dayle Wood 8.

Plymouth Gladiators 35: Danny King 12+1, Joe Thompson 4+1, Anze Grmek 0, Ben Barker 7, Scott Nicholls 6+1, Daniel Klima 5, Tom Spencer 1.

PHOTO by Steve Edmunds