REACTION: “There’s a really good atmosphere amongst the team.”

MONARCH Oxford Cheetahs swept aside their oldest rivals, the Swindon Robins, by 55-35 in the special challenge match at Cowley last night (Wednesday), to win their second meeting in two days.

The assembled Robins side was actually over three points above the Championship points limit at 43.04, but it was Oxford who looked the far superior team and Cheetahs didn’t concede a heat advantage to Robins all night.

Oxford skipper Scott Nicholls still hasn’t lost to an opposing rider at Sandy Lane so far this season, as he took a 11+1 paid maximum, while fellow heat-leaders Lewis Kerr (12) and Sam Masters (9+2) also scored heavily, and they received excellent back-up from the rest of the team. Cheetahs only ran four last places all evening, and three of those came when victory on the night was already in the bag.

A bumper crowd was in attendance, including many fans from Wiltshire, for the first time that Swindon had taken to the track since winning the Premiership play-offs at the end of 2019. Last night showed the support is still there, and hopefully speedway can return in triumph at Swindon, just as it has at Oxford.

In Heat 1, new Oxford No 1 Masters was pushed all the way by 2017 World Champion Jason Doyle, but Masters held off a stern challenge from his fellow Aussie to win in a time just 0.05 seconds outside the track record.

Luke Killeen showed plenty of spirit in Heat 2, recovering from rearing violently on the opening lap to fly past Sam Hagon into third place with a lap remaining, while Henry Atkins pushed race winner Jack Smith and almost got through on the opening lap.

Kerr rode a determined opening lap in Heat 4 to sweep around Chris Harris and commence his evening on a winning note, while Nicholls produced a terrific effort to hold off a charging Doyle to win Heat 5.

Atkins produced a fantastic second bend in Heat 7, as he took care of 2021 British Champion Adam Ellis and joined Kerr for a 5-1.

Killeen again provided the thrills in Heat 8, as again he reared at one point, and this time he swept inside Hagon on the very final bend to ensure the race was shared.

Old rivals Nicholls and ‘Bomber’ Harris served up a terrific heat of speedway in Heat 9. While Jordan Jenkins took an impressive heat win, the battle was raging just behind him. A couple of times Nicholls looked like he might have the inside run, only for Bomber to regain the initiative on the outside. Coming off the final bend, Nicholls made another inside move and beat Harris to the chequered flag in a very close finish, as he joined Jenkins for a 5-1.

Cameron Heeps won Heat 10, while Sam Masters team rode in second place, for another 5-1, as Cheetahs headed into the interval almost out of sight at 39-21 ahead.

Kerr held off the charging Doyle in Heat 11, while Atkins continued an impressive evening by passing Max Clegg for third place early doors.

The last four races were all shared 3-3. A highlight was Masters once more showing Doyle no way through in Heat 13, while Kerr pushed Harris for third in this race.

With victory in the bag, Heeps was given a Heat 15 outing and didn’t look out of place, while Kerr jetted away from the start which meant Doyle went through the evening without a single race win.

A highly successful night concluded with a sizeable amount being raised for the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund by an auction of the Swindon race-jackets in the bar after the meeting.

Lewis Kerr said: “It was a great team effort tonight, especially since Swindon had a strong team out.

“I had a good night. I ran a last place in Heat 13, but I made up for it by winning Heat 15 and ended my night with a win so I’m happy.

“There’s a really good atmosphere amongst the team. We’re all having a laugh and working together to get the most out of the team. We’re all enjoying ourselves and it’s going to be a good year.

“It’s not just the heat leaders scoring for Oxford, everyone is chipping in. Jordan has had a couple of machinery problems, but he’s picked it up and finished his night well.

“I knew Pete (Peter Schroeck, Oxford team manager) really well from my King’s Lynn days. Oxford is a much closer home track for me, while the whole club is professional and ambitious, and the support from the fans is great. I also love the track – I won the pairs here last year. I jumped at the chance to join Oxford when the opportunity became available.”

Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 55: Sam Masters 9+2, Cameron Heeps 8, Scott Nicholls 11+1, Jordan Jenkins 6, Lewis Kerr 12, Henry Atkins 6+2, Luke Killeen 3+2.

Swindon Robins 35: Jason Doyle 10, Max Clegg 3, Adam Ellis 5, Dan Thompson 5+1, Chris Harris 8+2, Jack Smith 4+1, Sam Hagon 0.

PHOTO: Lewis Kerr leads Jason Doyle in Heat 11 (pic: Steve Edmunds)