REPORT: Chargers just miss out to the new champions
REAL MINI COMPANY Oxford Chargers powered by SD Timmo Car Sales were succeeded as WSRA National League champions by Leicester, after Lion Cubs won 47-43 at Oxford Stadium yesterday afternoon (Sunday).
Leicester were already all but mathematically league champions going into the meeting, but required at least the aggregate bonus point to clinch the title at Cowley, and they held a 47-41 advantage going into the meeting on that score.
Lion Cubs got off to the better start and led 19-11 after five races.
All credit to Chargers’ guest Connor Coles who team rode with Ashton Vale in Heat 3, only for Leicester’s Max James to pass both Chargers on the final bend to deny the home side a 5-1.
Oxford skipper Luke Killeen returned to action just four days after a hospital trip, following an alarming spill at the stadium while representing the Oxford Cheetahs on Wednesday evening.
After a second place in Heat 1, Killeen recorded the first of four successive heat wins in Heat 6, as Chargers started a run of four 4-2s that brought the scores level.
Jody Scott passed Tom Spencer to win Heat 7, while Jacob Clouting burst around Arran Butcher to take Heat 8. Coles and Vale held a 5-1 in Heat 9, but James passed Vale on the third lap.
With the scores at 27-27, the Leicester pair trapped in Heat 10, but Luke Killeen quickly passed Spencer and Butcher to win the race.
The next two races proved decisive. Joe Thompson and Sonny Springer took a 5-1 over Scott in Heat 11.
In Heat 12, James was a little fortunate to avoid exclusion after a fall on the second bend. In the re-run, Coles was battling James for second place, when he appeared to receive a nudge from behind from James entering the third bend of the second lap. Coles made contact with race-leader Spencer and both came down. Coles – the filling in a Leicester sandwich – was harshly excluded from the re-run.
In the second re-run, Lion Cubs took a 5-1, despite a valiant effort by Declan Killeen – the older brother of Luke Killeen – who showed plenty of promise in his first-ever competitive meeting in British Speedway.
Luke Killeen inflicted the only defeat of the meeting on Thompson in Heat 13, as he and Scott pegged back a 4-2.
Vale passed Butcher for second place in Heat 14, but James and Butcher took a match-winning 4-2 for Lions, whose title celebrations began in earnest, before Luke Killeen and Scott took a consolation 5-1 in Heat 15
Chargers’ skipper Luke Killeen said: “My neck and back is still a bit sore after my crash the other day, but it was nice to come back and ride today, because the next one was for Spires on Thursday. If I’d have come back at Premiership level after eight days off, that would have been tough, so it was better for me to ride today.
“I also wanted to ride in the last home meeting for Chargers. We fought hard today, and we came back from quite a few points behind at one point. Congratulations to Leicester on winning the league.
“I came in at the bottom end of this team a couple of years ago. It’s been nice to work my way up and, this year, I’ve had the chance to pass on my knowledge. I hope that carries on and we’ve always got riders passing on knowledge on any new riders.
“My brother Declan did okay and he would done even better had he been able to get out of the starts, because he had plenty of speed. It was good to watch him racing for the club and I’m hoping that he will be back next year.”
Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck said: “Congratulations to Leicester on clinching the WSRA National League title. I just wanted our boys to enjoy the meeting today, however the result went. There was some good racing and it was an entertaining meeting.
“There’s a strong chance that we could finish the season in a very creditable second place. We’ve got one meeting left at Scunthorpe and we’ll be doing our best to win that one.
“I feel there’s a lot of teams who had more experience in their side than us at the start of the season, so I’m delighted how the boys have performed. For us, this league is always about rider progression and development. I believe we’re at the forefront of that with the youngsters coming through.
“We had another healthy crowd watching today. My thanks to all the fans who have supported the Chargers on Sunday afternoons this year. Also thanks to all our sponsors, including the two main sponsors of the Chargers – our title sponsors Real Mini Company, plus SD Timmo Car Sales.”
The next meeting at Oxford Stadium is on Thursday (August 29), when the Oxford Spires conclude their 2024 fixtures with the visit of the Leicester Lions in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. Tickets are already on sale at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by SD Timmo Car Sales 43: Luke Killeen 14, Jacob Clouting 5+1, Connor Coles 7, Ashton Vale 4+1, Jody Scott 9+1, Senna Summers 1, Declan Killeen 3.
Leicester Lion Cubs 47: Joe Thompson 11, Sonny Springer 3+1, Tom Spencer 7, Vinnie Foord R/R, Luke Crang 3, Max James 16+1, Arran Butcher 7+2.
(PHOTO by Steve Edmunds)