Oxford Silver Machine 48, Belle Vue Aces 45

Travis McGowan proved a real 'beaut' as he bounced back from last week's injury scare to inspire a hard-fought Skybet Elite League victory over the Aces inat the Stadium last night.

The Aussie showed no signs of any discomfort and was really on the pace from the onset.

He top-scored with a superb paid 13 points, and together with seven-ride Rafal Dobrucki, was responsible for Silver Machine pulling this one off in the final heat.

Only Jason Crump and Polish star Tomasz Tedrzejak, who scored 32 points between them, prevented Aces taking a hammering.

Oxford's Greg Hancock, still not quite right after his shoulder injury, was better than his paid 12 if only for his team riding.

The track proved tricky early on after the heavy rain in the week.

But despite that, two tankers of water were put on during the afternoon, which led to referee Graham Flint ordering sawdust and shale to be put on the bends.

However, this didn't stop McGowan bouncing back blasting clear along with Hancock to open the meeting in style.

The Aces had a trump card up their sleeves in Polish ace Jedrzejak, who bounced in two early victories.

Crump, a former No 1 here, produced the fastest time so far this season in leaving Sebastian Ulamek and Dobrucki cold.

Oxford responded as McGowan came from the back to take Jedrzejak in heat six, while Ulamek led heat seven where Jonas Davidsson took Toni Svab from the back.

In heat eight, McGowan and Dobrucki proved too sharp for Jedrzepak and Scott Robson, and Oxford pulled further ahead when McGowan and Hancock team-rode in great style.

This only led to the dreaded double-points tactical joker for the Aces, whose boss Jim Lynch named Jedrzejak. And the Pole scored six points to bring them closer at 40-35.

Crump chalked up his fourth straight victory in heat 13. With two heats to come there was all to play for.

Tedrzejak and fellow pole Dobrucki were involved in a classic. The Belle Vue man got first run, before a brilliant pass on the top bend by Dobrucki had the crowd on their toes.

But Tedrzejak hit back in great style to keep the result in doubt until the final heat.

Oxford needed a second place to secure victory.

And while Crump continued his domination to make it a 15-point maximum, McGowan and Hancock team-rode Joe Screen out of the reckoning and made it six out of six for Oxford at Sandy Lane this season.

Oxford: McGowan 12+1, Dobrucki 11+2, Hancock 9+3, Ulamek 6, Fisher 5+1, Davidsson 5+1. 48 pts.

Belle Vue: Tedrzejak 17, Crump 15, Screen 6, Robson 5, Johansson 1, Svab 1. 45 pts. HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: McGowan, Hancock, Johansson, Screen (f.exc). Awd'd.

Heat 2: Jedrzejak, Favidsson, Robson, Dobrucki. 60.6 secs.

Heat 3: Jedrzejak, Fisher, Svab, Davidsson. 60.7.

Heat 4: Crump, Dobrucki, Robson, Ulamek. 58.7.

Heat 5: Screen, Fisher, Dobrucki, Johansson. 60.0.

Heat 6: Crump, Hancock, McGowan, Jedrzejak. 58.9.

Heat 7: Ulamek, Robson, Davidsson, Svab. 60.6.

Heat 8: McGowan, Dobrucki, Jedrzejak, Robson. 59.7.

Heat 9: Crump, Dobrucki, Jedrzejak, Fisher (e/f). 61.4.

Heat 10: McGowan, Hancock, Robson, Svab. 59.7.

Heat 11: Ulamek, Screen, Davidsson, Johansson. 60.9.

Heat 12: Jedrzepak, Dobrucki, Fisher, Robson. 61.8.

Heat 13: Crump, Hancock, Screen, Ulamek. 60.2.

Heat 14: Jedrzejak, Dobrucki, Davidsson, Robson. 61.5.

Heat 15: Crump, McGowan, Hancock, Screen. 59.8.