Thursday, May 29, 2025
OXFORD SPEEDWAY
Oxford SpeedwaySpires

REPORT: Spires shot down at High Noon

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BETGOODWIN Oxford Spires lost out 32-58 in their lunchtime ROWE Motor Oil Premiership encounter at Belle Vue’s National Speedway Stadium earlier today on Bank Holiday Monday.

The fixture went ahead, despite the threat of rain. There was a smattering of the wet stuff both at the start and end of the meeting, while the heavens opened after proceedings were completed.

Oxford went into the fixture without Craig Cook, out due by the seven-day rule regarding illness. After a search for a guest proved fruitless, Spires used the rider replacement facility for Cook.

Spires proved competitive early on, with both Peter Kildemand (Heat 2) and Erik Riss (Heat 3) winning races, while they could consider themselves a little unfortunate in Heat 4. Charles Wright had moved from fourth to first to join Kildemand at the front, when the Belle Vue riders got into a tangle between themselves on the third lap, with Jake Mulford crashing down as a result. With the race well advanced, many referees would have awarded a 5-1, which would have placed Spires ahead at 13-11. But Dan Bewley was given a second chance and won the re-run to keep Aces in front.

Belle Vue pulled away after that, while Spires lost out on another opportunity for a 5-1 in Heat 12. Kildemand and Riss were well in front, when Riss lifted and fell off the back of the bike. He was soon up to his feet – while, this time, the race was awarded – as a 3-3.

That clinched victory for Aces, while the hosts then outscored Spires by 14-4 in the remaining races to finish as convincing winners. Bewley produced some world class speedway in both Heats 13 and 15, while both Bewley (13+2) and Grand Prix series leader Brady Kurtz (12) were unbeaten by a Spire.

Kildemand was the top Oxford rider, scoring 12+2 from seven rides. The Dane provided two out of three of Spires’ heat wins.

Spires’ team manager Peter Schroeck said: “Belle Vue is a tough track to visit, but no excuses – we didn’t have enough heat winners and we ran too many last places.

“We would have been closer if we hadn’t lost the two 5-1s. For the first one, I think it should have been awarded, because Charles had already done a lot of hard work to join Peter at the front. When the race is stopped because one Belle Vue rider falls, it doesn’t seem quite right to give the other Ace [Dan Bewley] a second chance because of that.

“Erik was okay after his fall – it was more damage to both his machinery and his pride. It was a shame because he was having a good meeting until that happened.

“Peter was a bit overworked but did a great job. But using rider replacement didn’t really work for us.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies take on Scunthorpe Scorpions in their opening meeting at the Cab Direct Championship on Wednesday (May 28) at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Meanwhile, BetGoodwin Spires will not take to the track again for over two weeks – until Thursday, June 12 when they are at home to King’s Lynn.

Belle Vue Aces 58: Brady Kurtz 12, Norick Blodorn 7+2, Jaimon Lidsey 5+1, Zach Cook 14, Dan Bewley 13+2, Tate Zischke 3, Jake Mulford 4+3.

BetGoodwin Oxford Spires 32: Maciej Janowski 2, Craig Cook R/R, Erik Riss 6+2, Rohan Tungate 7, Charles Wright 5, Peter Kildemand 12+2, Luke Killeen 0.

PHOTO: Peter Kildemand top-scored for Spires with 12+2 at Belle Vue (pic: Steve Edmunds)