REPORT: Sam Masters untouchable, as Cheetahs keep it close at Edinburgh

TRACKING an almost unrecognisable side, SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies put up a decent fight before losing 40-50 at Edinburgh last night (Friday). Skipper Sam Masters scored a brilliant 18-point full maximum for Cheetahs.

Decimated by international commitments, plus an injury to Cameron Heeps, Cheetahs had just two of the usual septet in Scotland – Masters and Jordan Jenkins.

Oxford tracked four guest riders and all put in maximum effort, with Lasse Fredriksen (8) and Jacob Hook (7+2) having a particularly productive night.

Cheetahs moved into an early 11-7 lead, before Monarchs marched ahead at 25-17. Masters and Hook combined for a 5-1 in Heat 8, as Hook fended off Edinburgh stand-in skipper Justin Sedgmen in fine style, and a 4-2 from Jenkins and Jody Scott in Heat 9 reduced the deficit to just two points.

Armadale is a very tight circuit, and Jenkins found himself left with no racing room on the opening bends of Heat 11, as both he and Mark Parker came crashing down. The exclusion of Jenkins from the re-run was harsh, while he withdrew from the meeting after aggravating a shoulder injury.

That left skipper Masters as the last man standing of Cheetahs’ regular riders. He produced a masterclass around his former home track, including a fine overtake of Sedgmen in the re-run of Heat 11 that kept the gap at two points.

But Monarchs took 5-1s in Heats 12 and 14, since they had a high-scorer themselves in reserve Victor Palovaara, who totted up 20 points from seven rides and only dropped a point to Masters in Heat 1.

Masters won both Heats 13 and 15 to complete his full house, to keep Cheetahs in contention for the aggregate bonus point, when the two sides meet again at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium a week on Wednesday (June 18).

Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck said: “We came here as total underdogs, and I think we’ve done well to keep the gap to ten points and did the best possible job that we could. Sam Masters is different gravy. He was superb tonight and, once again, led by example.

“Every single rider gave their all tonight. We were struggling to find guests and my thanks go to the lads who agreed to ride for us. Lasse Fredriksen, Jody Scott and Ben Morley all rode for us, despite the fact that they are riding down the other end of the country at Plymouth in 24 hours.

“We could have been even closer, but a few things went against us. Jordan (Jenkins) had an unfortunate off and is feeling a bit second hand after aggravating his shoulder.

“We’ve kept ourselves in with a chance of the aggregate point when Edinburgh come back to our place. By the time, Victor Palaovaara will be at No 1 for Monarchs rather than at reserve and things might turn out a little differently.

“Meanwhile, I think the situation needs to be looked at, when teams are missing riders, due to them being called up to represent their nations in World Championship events. Tonight, of our missing five riders, three were for that reason. In any other sport, if that happened, the fixture would need to be re-arranged.

“I don’t see why it should be any different in speedway. It wasn’t just us who lost out, but also the home supporters. This could be the only time that Cheetahs race at Edinburgh this season, meaning the home fans won’t see most of the Oxford team race at their track this year. To me, it’s something that British Speedway needs to address in the future.”  

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires take on the King’s Lynn Stars in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash next Thursday (June 12) at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Edinburgh Monarchs 50: Michael Palm Toft 5, Paco Castagna R/R, Jonatan Grahn 3+2, Kye Thomson 12+2, Justin Sedgmen 9+4, Victor Palovaara 20, Mark Parker 1+1.

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies 40: Sam Masters 18, Cameron Heeps R/R, Lasse Fredriksen 8, Ben Morley 1, Jordan Jenkins 3, Jody Scott 3+1, Jacob Hook 7+2.

PHOTO: Sam Masters scored a perfect 18 points at Armadale (pic: Steve Edmunds)