IRATE Oxford speedway fans demanded their money back after last night's Elite League meeting against Wolverhampton was called off without a wheel being turned.

Euphoria turned to dismay after British Grand Prix champion Nicki Pedersen did a lap of honour in an open-topped Mercedes.

But all the while, track staff were trying to turn what looked like a ploughed field at the second bend into something resembling a speedway track.

Steady watering had gone on throughout the day, but the final one at around 6pm did the damage as the track which recently had six inches skimmed off the top, couldn't cope.

The worst part at the second bend is shaded by tall trees and the sun couldn't get through to help the drying process.

Fans were kept waiting for more than an hour after the scheduled 7.45pm start, and understandbly became increasingly impatient.

They will be able to use their admission tickets at any of the next three home meetings, while the visitors can apply for a refund or use the tickets when the meeting is staged.

Referee Peter Adams said: "In my opinion, despite concerted efforts by the track staff, the track was still in in an unsafe condition.

"There were grave concerns from the riders and I sent them out for a practice and it was apparent the riders couldn't get a skid off the back wheels.

"I gave further time to try and address the track, and in that time there was no improvement. I went down to the track at the last moment where I gave them ten minutes.

Again, I saw no improvement and at that point with the consensus of opinion between all the riders, I decided that the track was unsafe and called the meeting off."

Silver Machine promoter Nigel Wagstaff said: "I'm probably the loneliest person here at the moment. I have to confront people, but believe me we tried very hard. Todd Wiltshire is upset as are the whole team.

"People have been here since 6am trying to get water into the track.

"It should have been done earlier in the week, but it wasn't convenient because of the constraints we have here.

"I don't expect people to understand, but it's very difficult to put a track down here, but we have to live with it.

"The week before we had a similar situation and it was a superb track. It just caught us out here tonight.

"We were very aware that it would be dusty, like we had here on Good Friday and we tried to make it more comfortable for the fans

"In the end we have to hold our hands and apologise to the supporters.

"A lot of people probably came to see Nicki Pedersen tonight, but we have to protect our riders.

'We would possibly have incurred injuries if we had risked it. The racing would not have been good.

"My team would have tried it If I wanted them to, but it was the right decision to call it off." Machine use replacement OXFORD Silver Machine will use rider-replacement for Sebastian Ulamek, who is on World Championship duty, in their Elite League clash at Eastbourne tonight.

Oxford: Wiltshire, McGowan, Boyce, R/R, Pedersen, Iversen, Staechmann.