REPORT: Skipper Killeen to the max, as Chargers make it three out of three

DEFENDING champions Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by SD Timmo Car Sales continued their flawless start to the season with a comfortable 55-34 WSRA National League victory over Middlesbrough Tigers at Oxford Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The scores were level at 12-12 after Heat 4, but Chargers took control with a 5-1 from Jason Garrad and Jacob Clouting in Heat 5 and they were 29-18 ahead after eight races. Victory was assured when Garrad and Ashton Vale took a 4-2 from Heat 12.

Skipper Luke Killeen scored his first-ever maximum in British Speedway. He was headed just once, in the initial staging on Heat 6, but he flew under Middlesbrough’s Ben Trigger on the third bend, with Trigger then falling further around the bend.

Jody Scott was unlucky not to join Killeen on a maximum. He moved from third to first on the opening two laps of Heat 4, but the race had to be halted, due to the start marshal accidentally leaving the pole used to protect from the tapes from the wind out on the track. In the re-run, Scott fell, after a tight first bend with Trigger. It looked like a classic first bend bunching incident, but referee Matthew Wear excluded Scott, much to the annoyance of the Oxford fans.

Scott was unbeaten after that and beat Trigger twice in the closing stages, firstly when he joined Killeen for a 5-1 in Heat 13. In Heat 15, Scott fought around Trigger on the opening lap and then fended off his rival.

Garrad had another impressive home meeting for Chargers, and only dropped points in Heats 9 and 15 to Trigger, on his way to a dozen points.

Both Oxford reserves Ashton Vale and Senna Summers enjoyed a good meeting. They combined for 5-1s in both Heat 2 and Heat 8. Vale finished an impressive afternoon with a victory in Heat 14, to score 11 points. Summers – who had suffered three falls in his previous appearance for Chargers at Oxford – rode steadily and picked up 6+2.

On a hot afternoon – with the wind also not helping in keeping moisture in the track – both sets of riders coped very well with dusty conditions, while the track staff also deserve a pat on the back for their hard work on a testing afternoon.

Luke Killeen said: “It wasn’t just my first maximum for Oxford, but also my first maximum in league racing altogether. It’s been a while coming, but I’m definitely happy with it and even happier that the Chargers won another meeting.

“Everyone got to the grips with the track today and we were scoring right down to our two reserves – I was stoked for them that they both had a good meeting.

“We’ve won three out of three and we can’t do any more than keeping our winning run going. We just want to keep progressing as a team and there’s no reason why we can’t keep this going for the rest of the season.”

The next meeting at Sandy Lane is on Thursday (May 23), when the OXS Oxford Spires entertain the world-famous Belle Vue Aces, who visit for the first time since 2007, with 2022 British Grand Prix winner Dan Bewley making his first-ever appearance at Oxford Stadium.

It’s one not to miss, and tickets are already on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by SD Timmo Car Sales 55: Luke Killeen 12, Wayne Hutt 0, Jason Garrad 12, Jacob Clouting 3+2, Jody Scott 11+1, Ashton Vale 11, Senna Summers 6+2.

Middlesbrough Tigers 34: Jade Mudgway 1+1, Ben Rathbone 6, Danny Phillips 8, Jamie Halder 4+2, Ben Trigger 9, William Hocaniuk 2, Kai Ward 4+2.