Oxford Silver Machine suffered a savage blow before last night's crushing defeat by Peterborough at the East of England Showground - with the news that No 1 and skipper Greg Hancock was out injured.

The American ace was injured riding in Sweden on Tuesday.

The extent of his injuries are not known, but they are enough to also keep him out of tonight's clash against champions Poole Pirates and to make him doubtful for the second round of the Grand Prix in Sweden on Saturday.

Rider-replacement was used in his absence to no great effect as the Panthers blew away the meek challenge of their visitors by winning the first four heats 5-1, forcing team manager Nigel Wagstaff to introduce a tactical substitute as early as heat five.

But it did little to improve Silver Machine's lot as Niels-Kristian Iversen, who fell and was excluded in his first ride, could manage only second spot behind Ales Dryml.

Peterborough: A Dryml 15+3, Ermolenko 13+2, Karlsson 11, Bager 12, L Dryml 5+3, Armstrong 6+3. 62 pts

Oxford: Iversen 12, McGowan 6+1, Andersson 5, Jensen 4+1, Madsen 3+1, Gustafsson 0. 30 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Karlsson, L Dryml, Andersson, McGowan. 59.7secs.

Heat 2: Bager, Armstrong, Madsen, Gustafsson (e/f). 61.3.

Heat 3: Ermolenko, A Dryml, Jensen, Iversen (f/exc). 61.1.

Heat 4: Bager, Ermolenko, Andersson, Madsen. 61.3.

Heat 5: A Dryml, Iversen, McGowan, L Dryml (f). 61.0.

Heat 6: Karlsson, Andersson, Armstrong, Gustafsson (e/f). 60.6.

Heat 7: Iversen, Jensen, Ermolenko, Armstrong. 61.5.

Heat 8: Bager, L Dryml, Madsen, McGowan (f/exc). 61.6.

Heat 9: A Dryml, Armstrong, Andersson, Madsen. 62.3.

Heat 10: Iversen, Karlsson, L Dryml, Jensen. 62.3.

Heat 11: (re-run) McGowan, Ermolenko, Armstrong, Madsen. 63.0.

Heat 12: Bager, A Dryml, Jensen, Gustafsson. 62.2.

Heat 13: Karlsson, Ermolenko, McGowan, Andersson (e/f). 62.5.

Heat 14: A Dryml, Iversen, Madsen, Bager. 63.1

Heat 15: Ermolenko, A Dryml. McGowan, Iversen. 63.0