Sam Masters and Luke Killeen confirmed for 2027 Oxford Cheetahs

OXFORD CHEETAHS have commenced their Cab Direct Championship team building for the 2027 season, after revealing both skipper Sam Masters and Luke Killeen will return to ride again for Oxford Speedway in 2027. Both rode for the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs this season and both were announced by promoter Jamie Courtney at the End Of Season Party at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last night (Friday).

Masters first joined Oxford in 2023 and returns for a fifth successive season with Cheetahs. He hasn’t missed a single official meeting in the last four seasons and, even more remarkably, has ridden at No 1 in all of those meetings, having never moved away from the top of Cheetahs’ averages.

The Australian picked up some much deserved silverware with Oxford, when he joined Anders Rowe to win the Championship Best Pairs at Poole in September.

Masters said last night: “There’s no place I’d rather be than back at Oxford. I’m not one to change teams and I don’t like changing teams. I was with Edinburgh for eight years and next year is my fifth season with Oxford.

“Oxford is such a good club and it was always in my heart to come back here. I get on with everyone here and I enjoy it. I’m already looking forward to next year with Oxford.”

Luke Killeen has been a part of Oxford Speedway ever since the club returned from 15 years in the wilderness in 2022. He was an Oxford Charger that season, before he joined the Oxford Cheetahs in 2023. He uniquely rode for three Oxford sides – Spires, Cheetahs and Chargers – in 2024, while he won the WSRA National League with the Chargers in 2023.

Killeen is also a big fan favourite – last night he won both the Supporters’ Cheetah Of The Year and the Riders’ Cheetah Of The Year awards.

The 21-year-old British rider could not make the party last night, since he was busy scoring 7+2 for his Premiership club Sheffield at Belle Vue in the second leg of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final.

In a video message, Killeen said: “I’m back as an Oxford Cheetah for 2027. There’s no place I’d rather be. I feel I’ve made some progress this season and that’s all thanks to the club and the supporters, and also my sponsors because none of this would have been possible without them. I’ll see you next season.”

AWARD WINNERS:

Supporters’ Cheetah Of The Year: Luke Killeen

Supporters’ Charger Of The Year: Jody Scott

Riders’ Cheetah Of The Year: Luke Killeen

Riders’ Charger Of The Year: Harry Fletcher

Unsung Hero Of The Year: Colin Perkins

Cliff Peasley Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Contribution To Oxford Speedway in 2026: Jamie Courtney

PHOTO by Steve Edmunds