Oxford Silver Machine skipper Todd Wiltshire dropped a bombshell by announcing he will quit at the end of the season, following an inspirational 50-40 victory against Reading Racers in the British League Cup at Smallmead Stadium on Monday night.

Todd Wiltshire, left, with Jan Staechmann and Reading's Andrew Appleton

The announcement came out of the blue on the riders' victory parade and left Oxford fans stunned.

Wiltshire, who will be 35 in September has decided to call it a day during his second spell with Oxford.

He joined the Sandy Lane outfit in mid-season in 1998 and then rode the next three years before restrictions on Grand Prix riders denied him a place in last year's team.

New promoter Nigel Wagstaff snapped him up as skipper this year and he has been a revelation for the Silver Machine.

He was at his brilliant best last night to score a faultless maximum. Although the opposition was not quite what he was used to, he did the job in his usual professional manner.

It completed a nostalgic return to the club he spent many happy years at before a serious back injury took him out of the sport for six years.

Meanwhile, the Silver Machine, led in style by Wiltshire, secured a comfortable lead before the return leg at Sandy Lane on Friday.

It was Oxford's first British League Cup victory of the season.

Wiltshire got terrific support from Travis McGowan, who looked like getting a paid maximum until being forced to the back in the final heat by former Cheetah Andrew Appleton and Garry Stead.

A couple of heats earlier, Wiltshire tangled with fellow Aussie Scott Smith, and many thought the Silver Machine man was at fault

But the referee kicked out Smith much to the home fans' disgust.