Tuesday, April 29, 2025
OXFORD SPEEDWAY
Oxford SpeedwaySpires

REPORT: Charles Wright injury worry, while Spires struggle in TV clash

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BETGOODWIN Oxford Spires suffered a heavy loss in their televised ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash at the Adrian Flux Arena in Norfolk last night (Monday), with the King’s Lynn Stars winning by 59-31.

Charles Wright – Spires’ most consistent rider in 2025 – was the innocent victim of a first bend incident in Heat 10 and pulled out of the meeting with a wrist injury. Spires’ Peter Kildemand and King’s Lynn guest Tom Brennan tangled, with the result that Brennan lost his chain and ploughed into Wright, on his outside.

There were concerns over both Brennan and Wright. Both got to their feet, but Wright started to feel some pain to his wrist. He withdrew from the meeting and will have his hand checked out.

Oxford got off to a dreadful start and trailed by 32-10 after seven heats. After a stern team talk from manager Peter Schroeck, Spires did look more competitive in the second half of the meeting.

Spires’ skipper Maciej Janowski scored three points from his opening two outings, but then made some set-up changes. The Pole completed his evening with a hat-trick of race wins, commencing in Heat 9, when he and tactical substitute Wright combined for a 4-2 over Niels-Kristian Iversen and Nicholai Klindt. Janowski ended up with a dozen points.

The other bright spot was a battling 6+1 from Rising Star Luke Killeen. On his first-ever visit to King’s Lynn at the start of the season, Killeen failed to scored, but second time around, he was on the pace and competitive, including inflicting a couple of defeats on opposite number Ashton Boughen.

Peter Schroeck said: “I don’t like using the word often, but tonight I have to, because I was very disappointed. It was a tough one to take.

“Some serious soul-searching over the Spires is going to have to happen. We need to have a chat to see where we’re going with this team.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies take on Plymouth Gladiators in the BSN Series on Wednesday (April 30) at 7.30pm. Cheetahs – unbeaten across 15 heats this season – would go back to the top of the Southern Group with a victory. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

King’s Lynn Stars 59: Tom Brennan 8+1, Jan Kvech 10+2 (paid maximum), Nicolai Klindt 7+2, Niels-Kristian Iversen 9+1, Richard Lawson 10+3, Chris Harris 9, Ashton Boughen 6.

BetGoodwin Oxford Spires 31: Rohan Tungate 1+1, Erik Riss 5+1, Charles Wright 2, Peter Kildemand 3, Maciej Janowski 12, Francis Gusts 2+1, Luke Killeen 6+1.

PHOTO: Maciej Janowski top-scored for Spires with 12 points (pic: Les Aubrey)