BRITISH SPEEDWAY MAY 8, 2025

(SPEEDWAY 1)

MASTERS TOP SCORES IN CHEETAHS’ VICTORY

OXFORD have booked their place in the BSN Series semi-finals – although their impressive 46-44 win at Poole was marred by an injury to Dan Gilkes.

The Cheetahs raced into a ten-point lead at Wimborne Road and though they were gradually reeled in during the closing stages, a second place for captain Sam Masters in Heat 15 was enough to clinch victory.
However, they lost Gilkes in a Heat 10 crash which saw the meeting held up whilst he received trackside care before being taken to hospital with a kneecap injury.

Masters top scored with 16 from six rides whilst reserve Mitch McDiarmid made a key contribution with 11+1. Richard Lawson scored 13 for the Pirates with skipper Zach Cook on 10+1.

The result means Oxford join Glasgow as confirmed semi-finalists, whilst holders Poole must wait to see if their five group points – and a favourable race points difference – will be enough to take the position for best runners-up.
Masters said: “I feel we deserved the victory tonight – we were riding well all night.

 “We only had five riders left at the end. Gilkesy had scored five points from the three races he completed and every point counted. We hope he’s okay – he’s been a big part of the team.
 “Mitch had a great meeting. Poole were struggling a bit at reserve and when you’ve got someone scoring well at reserve, it takes the pressure off the rest of us.”

Lawson said: “I don’t really know what to say, it was one of those frustrating nights, but I am not going to stand here and make excuses.
“We weren’t good enough, and we will have to take a look back at this and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

ERIK Riss says he wants to transfer his impressive home form in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership into success on the road for Oxford Spires.
Riss, who rode as a Wild Card in last weekend’s FIM Grand Prix of Germany, has been one of the bright spots in a tough top-flight campaign at Cowley.

He piled up a massive 20 points in their defeat to Ipswich before adding further double-figure scores against Leicester and Birmingham, the latter on Monday as he collected 11+2 in the team’s first win of the season – backed up by 8+1 in their subsequent victory at Perry Barr.
Riss said: “I’m pleased with my form around Oxford – I’ve got it figured out. I know what to do when the track is slick and I know what to do when the track is grippy.

“I’m happy with how I’m going around Oxford, I just need to be more consistent away from home. I’m always working hard at it and I want to be scoring good points everywhere.
“It was nice to have formed a strong opening pairing with Maciej (Janowski). It takes pressure away from the team when we started off with a 5-1 in Heat 1.”

(FIXTURES)

FRIDAY MAY 9:
MAXICAB KO CUP Q/F 2nd leg: Redcar (43) v Berwick (47) 7.30
BSN SERIES: Glasgow (46) v Edinburgh (44) 7.30, Scunthorpe (43) v Workington (47) 7.30

SATURDAY MAY 10:
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP: Plymouth v Glasgow 7pm
BSN SERIES: Workington (39) v Redcar (51) 3pm
WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Edinburgh v Belle Vue 7pm

SUNDAY MAY 11:

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY: Leicester v King’s Lynn 3pm