Oxford Cheetahs 46, Poole Pirates 44: Oxford Cheetahs ace Leigh Adams wiped the floor with world champion Tony Rickardsson in the final heat to give Cheetahs a stunning victory in their Elite League clash at the Stadium.

Adams took so much out his engine that it blew as he passed the chequered flag, but he was so far ahead it didn't matter.

One sure thing is, that if you can gate ahead of Rickardsson you always have a chance.

Adams didn't just gate, he flew out and was at least four yards clear out of the first bend. The klaxon horns were at their loudest as his victory clinched the points for Cheetahs.

In a nip-and-tuck affair throughout, Adams was well supported in Friday's clash by Lukas Dryml, much more confident after his debut in the GP. And there were good contributions from Mark Lemon, Steve Johnston and guest Dean Barker.

Cheetahs got off to the best possible start with a rare 5-1 in the opener, as Barker gated well to lead home Dryml ahead of Gary Havelock.

The Pirates hit back through their new Polish pair in kind.

Rickardsson and Adams clashed as early as heat four, but sadly for the Oxford fans, it was over at the start as the super Swede blasted clear from the tapes.

The Pirates extended their lead to six points before a superb piece of team-riding from Lemon and Adams, and then a win for Dryml in heat eight made it 24-24.

Straight after the break, Johnston split the Pirates pair to prevent a 5-1 and then Adams ended Rickardsson's unbeaten record in heat 13 to make it 39-39.

Oxford stole a march as Dryml and Lemon tore out of the gate and with a comfortable 4-2 went into the decider with a two-point advantage, and every chance of victory - as Adams proved the at the death.

Oxford: Adams 13+1, Dryml 10+2, Lemon 8, Johnston 7, Barker 6, Appleton 2+1. 46 pts.

Poole: Rickardsson 13, Chrzanowski 7+2, Pedersen 7+1, Andersen 6+1, Staszewski 5+1, Havelock 5, Zetterstrom 1+1. 44 pts.