Oxford Silver Machine 52,

Coventry Bees 38

By John Gaisford

THE arrival of Yankee superstar Greg Hancock, appropiately on American Independence Day, gave the Silver Machine a new buzz as they wiped the floor with a depleted Coventry Bees side at the Stadium last night.

It was Hancock and maximum man skipper Todd Wiltshire, admirably backed up by Sebastian Ulamek, who were the inspiration behind this Elite League victory that also secured the bonus point.

Afterwards, Wiltshire praised promoter Nigel Wagstaff for going out and signing the most sought after rider in the world in Hancock. "The capture has lifted the whole team," said Wiltshire.

The meeting took over two hours to complete due to starting gate problems and a bad smash in the penultimate heat when Travis McGowan and Ryan Fisher came together, with the Oxford rider being excluded.

Hancock showed what a good team man he is going to be, when staying put behind the impressive Charlie Gjedde in his opening ride.

The American's second ride was a master clas, as chased by Lukas Dryml throughout the four laps.

He knew just what lines to take the stop the faster Dryml getting his head in front, as he had earlier to fly past Seb Ulamek.

It was a cracking start to the meeting, interrupted only by an annoying starting gate problem which held up proceedings for 25 minutes.

The meeting was everntually resumed with visiting referee Chris Durno operating an elasticated rope to start the heats - and it worked very well.

Wiltshire had got the show off to a flyer with a superb piece of riding to cut through Billy Janniro and Stuart Robson like a knife through butter.

Oxford were also well served by Gjedde (paid 11), but there were mixed debuts for Andy Smith and Matej Ferjan.

Coventry, without the injured Billy Hamill, were there for the taking, but Dryml, who came in for the injured Lee Richardson was a thrill-a-minute merchant.

Ulamek thought he had his race won in heat five, but the young Czech roared off the final bend to catch the Pole napping - and Dryml was to give a repeat performance in heat nine.

By then, the Bees had already used two tactical substitutes and were fast running out of options, with Oxford leading 30-24.

The Silver Machine then slapped in three vital 5-1s through Wiltshire and Andy Smith, and Hancock, who came from last to first and team rode McGowan home in another superb race.

Wiltshire grabbed his fourth win on the trot, to clinch the result for the Silver Machine, but there was stil plenty of drama to come.

McGowan and Fisher, who had come together earlier in the meeting, threw everything into their next clash.

The Oxford man would not give away, approaching the pits bend and Fisher took a horrifying crash which demolished ten feet of safety fence.

Fisher was carried off with a leg injury and took no further part. Wiltshire finished as he started to round off a great night for the home side.

Oxford: Wiltshire 15, Ulamek 10, Gjedde 9+2, Hancock 8+1, McGowan 5+1, Smith 4+2, Ferjan 1. 52pts.

Coventry: Dryml 12, Jonsson 9, Robson 8, Janniro 6, Bunyan 2, Fisher 1. 38pts HEAT DETAILS Heat 1: Wiltshire, Fisher, Robson, Smith. 57.6 secs.

Heat 2: McGowan, Gjedde, Fisher, Bunyan. 58.5.

Heat 3: Ulamek, Robson, Dryml, Ferjan. 58.8.

Heat 4: Gjedde, Hancock, Jonsson, Fisher. 58.9.

Heat 5: Dryml, Ulamek, Janniro, Ferjan. 59.4.

Heat 6: Wiltshire, Jonsson, Smith, Bunyan. 59.5.

Heat 7: Hancock, Dryml, Robson, McGowan. 59.1.

Heat 8: Jonsson, Gjedde, Smith, Janniro. 59.9.

Heat 9: Dryml, Ulamek, Jonsson, Ferjan. 60.0.

Heat 10: Wiltshire, Smith, Robson, Fisher, Dryml (exc/2mins). 60.2.

Heat 11: Hancock, McGowan, Janniro, Robson. 60.8.

Heat 12: Ulamek, Gjedde, Dryml, Bunyan. 60.6.

Heat 13: Wiltshire, Janniro, Jonsson, Hancock. 60.3.

Heat 14: (re-run) Robson, Bunyan, Ferjan, McGowan (exc). 61.4

Heat 15: Wiltshire, Dryml, Jonsson, Hancock. 60.0.