Danish ace Jesper B Jensen produced his best performance in an Oxford Silver Machine jacket with a cracking paid 16 points to send the Wolves packing 50-46 in last night's televised Elite League thriller at Oxford Stadium.

It all came down to the final heat where Greg Hancock and Jensen pulled off a maximum to secure the points - their third win in a row at Sandy Lane.

Jensen had good support from Hancock (paid 17), while Travis McGowan and Tomasz Jaberski also played their part.

Oxford were dealt a big blow when influential reserve Henka Gustafsson crashed out in the second heat and a thumb injury prevented him taking any further part in the meeting.

The Machine could ill afford to lose a rider of his calibre, with Niels Kristian Iversen and Stefan Andersson also out, but early on Mikael Makowsky proved an adequate substitute for Iversen as the Oxford side went 25-11 up after heat six.

Two telling tactical substitutions from Wolves' boss Peter Adams saw them strike with a 7-2 and 7-1 advantage in successive heats, followed by a 4-2 to get to within one point of the home side at 30-29.

Jensen scored ten points from his first four rides, easily his best return for the Machine.

However, the man who started to do some damage for Wolves was Swedish ace Peter Lindgren. After an indifferent start, he reeled off three wins out of four races to get the midlanders back on track.

Coming up to the interval, fans were treated to probably the race of the season as all four riders could have been covered with a blanket as they crossed the line. Lindgren was the clear winner but a cigarette paper split McGowan, Hancock and Steve Johnston.

After the break, Hancock and Tomasz Bajerski saw off Mikael Max in style. Hancock was looking to team-ride with Bajerski, but there was no need as he held off the Wolves No 1 for second place, as they moved 38-33 ahead.

Makowsky was called up for the all-important heat 13 to partner Hancock, but it was a tall order for the Berwick rider, although Hancock easily landed the spoils.

Makowsky was out again in heat 14 with Bajerski but when Bajerski reared at the gate and Makowsky anticipated the start, Wolves took full advantage to take the score to 45-44 and leave everything resting the last heat.

The drama continued as Lindgren was excluded for tape touching, Wolves replacing him with Magnus Karlsson. Hancock led with Jensen in last place, but a precision move round the outside from the Dane saw him join Hancock for a 5-1 to climax a great night's racing.