Oxford Cheetahs looking towards bumper Friday nights at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium
SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs stage Friday night speedway for two successive weeks, starting with the visit of the Berwick Bandits in the Cab Direct Championship this Friday (July 24) at 7.30pm.
Friday night was Oxford Speedway’s main race-night for most seasons between 1984 and 2007. It is tends to be associated with success for the club, such as British League titles in 1985, 1986 and 1989, and also the Elite League in 2001.
Both this week’s meeting against Berwick and next week’s meeting against Poole Pirates (on Friday, July 31) are re-arranged meetings. With complications regarding both Poole having priority on Oxford’s usual Wednesday race-night, plus other commitments on a Wednesday night, Cheetahs’ fans were asked on the club’s WhatsApp channel if they would prefer a Tuesday or Friday alternative. The supporters voted an overwhelming 124 to 11 in favour of Friday evenings.
Oxford will use rider replacement for Anders Rowe against Berwick, who is riding in the Grand Prix Challenge in Terenzano, Italy on Saturday, where the top four riders will qualify for the 2027 Grand Prix Series. Otherwise, Cheetahs will track the same side who won 48-42 against Plymouth in their previous home fixture. Cheetahs have taken six wins out of eight at home so far this season.
Oxford team manager Peter Schoeck said: “We would like to restore the feelgood factor. It’s been missing for most of this season, ever since the problems that the stadium experienced at the start of the season, which were completely out of our hands of the speedway.
“We’ve got a run of four home meetings. We’ve been going well around the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium and this is an ideal time for us to build up a bit of momentum and bring the buzz back to the terraces.
“These days just about everything takes place over the weekend, and we realise that there will be people who are able to come on a Friday evening who haven’t been able to make it on a Wednesday. The schools are now out, while most people also don’t have to think about getting into work the next day. It’s free for kids at Oxford every meeting, and now it’s the holidays, it’s an ideal time for families to come along.
“We also encourage our loyal supporters to encourage their friends along. We want a large crowd getting behind the boys and a lively atmosphere on the terraces.
“It’s not been the season we wanted, but we haven’t given up yet. It’s a must-win against Berwick, as it will be for every remaining home meeting. We want to push up the Cab Direct Championship table and who knows what is possible if we win this Friday and then keep on going.”
Tickets are 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. Spectators are also reminded that they will need to pay £2 when booking their ticket if they are planning to park in the Unipart car park. Parking at the Unipart car park is now fully restored and the club thank Unipart for their co-operation.
On Race Day, there is now also the chance to buy tickets by cash or card at the box office from 6pm.
A full preview for Friday evening will follow later in the week.
PHOTO by Steve Edmunds