PREVIEW: Cheetahs seek to replace Bandits in third place

SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies are seeking to move up to third place, by defeating Berwick Bandits in in the Cab Direct Championship at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium on Wednesday evening (July 9) at 7.30pm.

Berwick currently occupy third place in the Cab Direct Championship, due to a 100 per cent home record. But Bandits have been fragile away from home and Cheetahs will be hoping to take advantage of that. The top four at the end of the season will progress to the play-offs which will determine the league champions.

It’s been almost three weeks, since Cheetahs won by 49-41 in their previous league encounter at Scunthorpe. But that gap has allowed second heat-leader Cameron Heeps further time to recover from a horror crash at Cowley on May 28. Heeps returned and scored 9+1 at home to Edinburgh and two at Scunthorpe, despite still being in pain in his leg.

Sadly, one rider out of action is fellow heat-leader Jordan Jenkins. Already carrying a number of knocks, Jenkins has picked up ligament damage to his knee after a crash at Belle Vue. Zach Cook will cover for his absence against Berwick.

Craig Cook is back from illness for Bandits – and will also ride for the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires at Leicester on Thursday. Berwick’s Danyon Hume suffered two fractured vertebrae in his back in a crash at the weekend and Bandits will utilise rider replacement for him.

Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck said: “We won’t be taking anything for granted against Berwick. We are seeking a victory, and beyond that, building up a lead for the aggregate bonus point ready for when we travel up there next month.

“It’s the first time that Cheetahs have been in action as a team for a few weeks. We showed what we can do as a team at Scunthorpe. We had almost our whole team that day. We were just missing Jordan and now sadly he will be out of action for a while longer. Knees are complicated things – we already know that with Dan Gilkes. Jordan is awaiting the results from some further tests and then we’ll go from there.

“We’ve booked Zach Cook as a guest for Jordan, who we know is a capable performer at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium.

“We also send our best wishes to Berwick’s Danyon Hume after the injuries he sustained at the weekend. Danyon recently rode for Cheetahs and did a good job and he’s a nice lad. I wish him a speedy recovery.

“There’s a good team spirit with Cheetahs and I’m looking to working with the boys again, as we look to strengthen our position in the Cab Direct Championship table with a good result against the Bandits.”

Tickets are already on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Admission is available at the early bird price of £21 for all adults, which increases to £23 on Race Day. All under-16s go free. A reminder that Oxford Speedway is online ticket sales only – tickets remain on sale on the website until the start-time of the meeting. Spectators are also reminded that they will need to pay £2 if they are planning to park in the Unipart car park.

Teams:

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies: Sam Masters (C), Jonas Knudsen, Zach Cook (G), Mitch McDiarmid, Cameron Heeps, Francis Gusts, Luke Killeen.

R.E.D Campers Berwick Bandits powered by STS: Craig Cook, Sam Hagon, Danyon Hume R/R, Drew Kemp (C), Peter Kildemand, Dayle Wood, Jack Smith.

PHOTO by Steve Edmunds