Thursday, May 28, 2026
OXFORD SPEEDWAY
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REPORT: Oxford Cheetahs off the mark, after overcoming Edinburgh Monarchs

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SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs commenced their home fixtures in the Cab Direct Championship, with a hard-fought 50-40 victory over Edinburgh Monarchs at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium yesterday evening (Wednesday).

There were only two points in it with three races remaining, but Edinburgh’s persistent challenge was finally extinguished as Oxford concluded with a hat-trick of heat advantages.

The Oxford track staff put 60,000 litres of water on the track on both Tuesday and Wednesday, but the sweltering weather conditions meant there was still a level of dust. The track produced good racing, with overtaking all night, right until the closing yards of Heat 15.

With Luke Killeen aggravating a rib injury at Belle Vue on Monday, Oxford Chargers’ skipper Jody Scott stepped in at No 2 for Cheetahs and scored six points, including winning Heat 1.

Monarchs took the lead with a 4-2 in Heat 4, before Nick Morris – again in for Erik Riss – steamed around the outside early on to join Cheetahs’ teenage star Mitch McDiarmid for a 5-1 in Heat 5.

A further 5-1 to this pairing in Heat 9, this time with McDiarmid flying around the outside, took Cheetahs six points ahead.

But Monarchs refused to yield and hit back with a 5-1 of their own, after Drew Kemp overtook Anders Rowe on the finishing line in a close finish to Heat 11.

Cheetahs increased their lead back to four points with a 4-2 in Heat 13. Sam Masters – who recovered from a rare last place in Heat 1 – took his third successive win by holding off a stern challenge from Kye Thomson, while Rowe was third.

Dayle Wood had scored solidly throughout the evening and he trapped in Heat 14, while Morris burst around the outside on the opening bends to join him for a match-winning 5-1.

With Oxford having won on the night and Edinburgh having secured the aggregate bonus point – courtesy of their 54-36 over a heavily depleted Cheetahs side at Armadale a fortnight ago – there was nothing riding on Heat 15, but you would never guessed it.

Masters trapped, while McDiarmid burst around the outside and swept into the lead. Masters then came under attack from Thomson and rode hard to keep his fellow Australian at bay. Coming out of the final bend, Thomson launched one final challenge on Masters and the two crossed the line together. The referee had to refer to transponder times to split the two, before he gave second place to Thomson, as Cheetahs finished with a 4-2.

18-year-old McDiarmid top-scored for Cheetahs with 11+2, while guest Morris dropped a single point on 10+1, and Masters and Wood were also paid for double figures with 10 and 7+4 respectively.

Mitch McDiarmid said: “I’m super happy – I believe that’s my best score of the season. The track was really nice – the dirt-line was far out but that’s how I like it around here.

“I’m also happy that as a team we posted a good score and took the win and I hope we keep that up, for sure.

“I was riding well with Nick Morris tonight. We were looking out for each other, which is the main thing. He wants to win, I want to win, and that’s a good attitude to have.

“Heat 15 reminded me of the away meeting at Plymouth, when I won the last race in that one. I just turned my jets on and pulled away. I was riding wide in that one as well. That’s the way to ride the Oxford track – I’m not a fan of the kerb. It was cool.

“The atmosphere within the team is great. Sam (Masters) as a captain is unreal. You couldn’t ask for anyone better. He’s a really chilled bloke and he keeps us calm. Pete (Schroeck, team manager) is always working hard to make sure we’re pushing forward during the meeting, no matter the result.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium is next Wednesday (June 3) at 7.30pm, when the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs take on the Redcar Bears in further Cab Direct Championship action. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs 50: Sam Masters 10, Jody Scott (guest) 6, Mitch McDiarmid 11+2, Nick Morris (guest) 10+1, Anders Rowe 4, Daryl Ritchings 2, Dayle Wood 7+4.

Edinburgh Monarchs 40: Drew Kemp (guest) 4+1, Jonthan Grahn 8+1, Justin Sedgmen 10+1, Paco Castagna 4, Kye Thomson 10, Mitchell Cluff 3, Jordy Loftus 1.

PHOTO: Action from the thrilling, concluding Heat 15, with Mitch McDiarmid and Sam Masters in front for Cheetahs, with Kye Thomson also in the frame (pic: Steve Edmunds)