Aussie Mark Lemon posted his best performance of the season as Oxford Cheetahs got their Elite League speedway campaign back on track with a hard-fought 47-43 victory over the King's Lynn Knights at Sandy Lane on Monday.

Lemon recorded four wins in his total of paid 14 points and said afterwards: "It is great to feel physically fit once again and I'm pleased with the way things are going. I have a new engine and it's working well so far."

It was only Cheetahs' second home win of the season, and they can thank the return to form of Lemon and skipper Steve Johnston, while Lukas Dryml showed more appetite for the contest.

Leigh Adams tasted defeat twice at the expense of the brilliant Nicki Pedersen, but was again a rock for Cheetahs.

Recently-crowned Danish champion Pedersen was in a class of his own with some magnificent speedway action to thrill the Bank Holiday crowd.

Following a couple of no-nonsense victories from the gate, Pedersen had to dig deep in his third ride after Johnston had enjoyed a dream run around the outside to lead coming out of the second bend.

But that was nothing compared to his third ride. Adams and Lemon appeared to have heat 11 under control with some good team-riding, before the Dane powered through the middle of both to register a famous victory.

His talents were matched by Adams in heat 13 after he was comprehensively outgated by Sebastian Ulamek and Pedersen. The Cheetahs No 1 spotted a gap coming out of the second bend and left the Knights pair grasping at thin air as he dived in between.

Earlier, a timely 5-1 by Lemon and Adams in heat seven saw Cheetahs go ten points clear, but clever tactical subs by the Knights put them level by heat ten to tuck away the bonus point.

Lukas Dryml was kicking himself for allowing the Knights to grab a 5-1 in heat ten. He looked poised to go under Freddie Eriksson, but appeared to pull out and allowed Travis McGowan to go through.

Lemon, enjoying probably his best performance since rejoining Cheetahs, sealed victory with Ales Dryml in heat 14, before Pedersen saw off a determined challenge from Adams to end a fine meeting.

**Oxford: Adams 12+1, Lemon 11+3, Johnston 9+1, L Dryml 7, Appleton 4, A Dryml 3, Andersen 1+1. 47 pts.

King's Lynn: Pedersen 16, Ulamek, 10+1, Eriksson 8, McGowan 4+2, Madsen 3, Pietryzk 1+1, Kramer 1. 43 pts.