REPORT: Spires fall to reigning champions

BETGOODWIN Oxford Spires suffered a 38-52 home defeat to reigning ROWE Motor Oil Premiership champions Belle Vue Aces at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last night (Thursday).

Belle Vue were far quicker from the starting tapes and soon pulled away into an early 16-8 advantage.

Spires held Aces in the mid-part of the meeting, despite only providing three heat-winners during the evening: Craig Cook in Heat 2, Peter Kildemand after an early burst around the outside to move from third to first in Heat 8 and Charles Wright in Heat 12.

But Aces pulled away further in the closing three races, with both Brady Kurtz (full) and Dan Bewley (paid) completing maximums.

Kildemand had his best meeting to date for Spires and top-scored with 9+1, while the ever-dependable Wright – who was given a lap of honour at the start of the meeting for his heroics in Monday’s British Final – contributed nine points.

Peter Kildemand said: “It’s been a tough start to the year for me, but it’s moving in the right direction.

“It wasn’t an ideal start to the season for me to pick up an injury, especially missing meetings around here, because it meant I was missing out getting used to the Oxford track. When I do, it will be a home advantage and I’m starting to get there on that.

“I really think we’re starting to work it out with my bikes and I feel I’m improving with every meeting.

“We still haven’t clicked as a team. When we do that, we’re going to be there, but so far we’re not clicking together on the same night. We need to dig deep and find our form as a team and then we’ll be okay.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium see the Spires entertain reigning Sheffield Tigers in more ROWE Motor Oil Premiership action next Thursday (May 22) at 7.30pm. Tickets are already one sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

BetGoodwin Oxford Spires 38: Maciej Janowski 4+1, Peter Kildemand 9+1, Charles Wright 9, Rohan Tungate 4+3, Erik Riss 6, Craig Cook 6+1, Luke Killeen 0.

Belle Vue Aces 52: Brady Kurtz 12, Norick Blodorn 4, Jaimon Lidsey 11, Zach Cook 9+1, Dan Bewley 11+1, Tate Zischke 2, Jake Mulford 3+2.

PHOTO: Peter Kildemand winning Heat 8 (pic: Steve Edmunds)