REPORT: Cheetahs progress to BSN Series Semi-Finals after great victory at Poole
SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies picked up an excellent 46-44 away victory at Poole’s Wimborne Road last night (Wednesday) – a result that maintained Cheetahs’ unbeaten start to the season and also secured top spot in the Southern Group of the BSN Series.
With the corresponding clash at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium resulting in a 45-45 draw, Cheetahs also clinched the aggregate bonus point last night. Oxford won have both of their away meetings in the Southern Group – at Plymouth and Poole – and progress to the BSN Semi-Finals as group winners.
Poole Pirates finish the Southern Group as runners-up and are sweating over qualification to the semi-finals as best runners-up, largely depending on the final two results in the Northern Group this weekend.
Cheetahs triumphed at Wimborne Road, despite losing Dan Gilkes when he crashed out while second on the final bend of Heat 10. It looked like a fairly innocuous fall, but it soon became apparent that Gilkes was hurt. The meeting was delayed for well over an hour, as medics took him to the local hospital. The main concern is Gilkes’ kneecap.
Oxford were already one man down in number – utilising rider replacement for Cameron Heeps, who is currently out with a shoulder injury – and they only had five riders left when racing resumed for the final five heats. One of those five – Jordan Jenkins – is still nursing an injury sustained at Oxford last week.
Until victory at Wimborne Road last August, Cheetahs had not won away at Poole in over 25 years. They’ve now won at Wimborne Road twice within nine months, which is even more impressive since these are the only two home defeats for Pirates – the current treble-holders – since June 2022.
Cheetahs got off to an excellent start and led 20-10 after five races, with reserves Mitch McDiarmid and Luke Killeen taking a 5-1 in Heat 2, after Killeen muscled around Paul Starke on the opening lap.
Australian teenager McDiarmid was massively impressive in just his fourth meeting in British Speedway, including thwarting Poole’s tactical substitute in Heat 6, when they placed Zach Cook into the race. Poole’s No 1 Richard Lawson led the race, but McDiarmid stormed around him on the third bend and there was no catching him.
Cheetahs still led by ten points after Heat 8 at 29-19, but Poole then edged back with a 5-1 in Heat 9, while what looked like a shared 3-3 in Heat 10 turned into a 4-2 to Pirates after Gilkes’ final bend mishap.
On the resumption of racing, skipper Sam Masters and McDiarmid extended Oxford’s lead to eight points with a 5-1 in Heat 11, after McDiarmid steamed under Lewis Kerr after a lap. The imperious Masters took his fourth successive heat victory.
Jonas Knudsen led for most of Heat 12 and made Anders Rowe fight for the victory, as Pirates pegged back a 4-2.
Heat 13 looked like a possible 5-1 to Pirates, but it all got very close on the second bend, and both Masters and Jenkins battled inside Kerr and then team-rode to keep Kerr at the back for the rest of the race.
With Gilkes out, Cheetahs tracked their two reserves in Heat 14. McDiarmid was the early leader and his eventual second place behind Cook left Cheetahs needing two points from the final race for victory.
Masters trapped in the decisive Heat 15. Lawson chased him and flew around him with a lap remaining. But Masters knew second was enough for victory and concentrated on blocking out Zach Cook on the final lap.
Masters top-scored for Cheetahs with 16 points, while McDiarmid contributed 11+1. Knudsen beat at least one opponent in each in his first five rides, scored 7+2 and deserved his Heat 15 outing.
Gilkes scored five points before his injury, while Jenkins opened with a win in Heat 4, after he passed Lewis Kerr – who had a sick bike – at the chequered flag and collected 4+1. Killeen battled to 3+1, including the 5-1 in Heat 2.
Skipper Sam Masters said: “I feel we deserved the victory tonight – we were riding well all night.
“We only had five riders left at the end. Gilkesy had scored five points from the three races he completed and every point counted. We hope he’s okay – he’s been a big part of the team.
“Mitch had a great meeting. Poole were struggling a bit at reserve and when you’ve got someone scoring well at reserve, it takes the pressure off the rest of us.
“When it comes to the final few races at Poole, it’s always tough, because they’ve got strong heat-leaders. But Jordan joined me for a 3-3 in Heat 13 – he put in an awesome race in that one. I didn’t feel super-fast in Heat 15, while Richard Lawson rode a good race. Once he got by, I wasn’t too worried about him, I was just focusing on keeping Zach (Cook) behind.
“We win as a team and lose as a team and everyone dug deep and played their part in our victory.”
The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires entertain reigning champions Belle Vue Aces in more ROWE Motor Oil Premiership action on Thursday, May 15 at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Poole Pirates 44: Richard Lawson 13, Tobias Thomsen 3, Anders Rowe 8+1, Zach Cook 10+1, Lewis Kerr 6, Paul Starke 4+1, Matt Marson 0.
SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies 46: Sam Masters 16, Cameron Heeps R/R, Jonas Knudsen 7+2, Dan Gilkes 5, Jordan Jenkins 4+1, Mitch McDiarmid 11+1, Luke Killeen 3+1.
PHOTO by Steve Edmunds