Oxford 47, Ipswich 43

GALLANT Gresham Cheetahs upset the applecart with a brilliant victory over Elite League champions-elect Ipswich in a barnstormer of a speedway meeting at Oxford Stadium last night.

The Witches, who have tasted defeat only three times before last night, couldn't cope with yet another final-heat showdown as Oxford's Kangaroo Kids, Jason Crump and Steve Johnston, pulled off a fantastic 5-1 over Tony Rickardsson and Tomasz Gollob.

And Cheetahs had to do it with only five riders when guest Ben Howe failed to arrive. He was booked in place of the injured Steve Schofield and stand-in team manager Steve Purchase opted for rider-replacement .

Todd Wiltshire took one ride and the rest was down to Jan Staechmann.

Crump gave every indication that he was in no mood for defeat as he easily beat Chris Louis in the opener.

Referee John Homer then earned the crowd's displeasure when excluding Staechman in heat two when he was clearly sandwiched, but Wiltshire zoomed home in the re-run.

It was nip and tuck until heat 13, so vital in this year's format. Crump left Gollob and Louis trailing, and when a stroke of luck saw a Witches 5-1 turned into a 3-3, you just knew it was going to be Cheetahs' night. Svab and Rickardsson were in control until a last-lap engine blow for Svab enabled Staechmann and Wiltshire to come through.

The final showdown was worth waiting for as Crump hit the gate in terrific style, with Johnston cutting in at the second bend.

Oxford: Crump 16, Wiltshire 10+2, Johnston 9+4, Staechmann 8+1, Hurry 4. 47 pts.

Ipswich: Rickardsson 12, Gollob 11, Louis 8, Nicholls 8, Clouting 2, Svab 2. 43 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Crump, Louis, Nicholls, Johnston 58.3 secs. Heat 2: (re-run) Wiltshire, Svab, Clouting, Staechmann (f/exc) 59.4. Heat 3: Rickardsson, Crump, Nicholls, Wiltshire 58.8. Heat 4: Staechmann, Gollob, Hurry, Svab 58.8. Heat 5: Nicholls, Wiltshire, Johnston, Louis 59.8. Heat 6: Crump, Johnston, Gollob, Clouting 59.6. Heat 7: Rickardsson, Louis, Hurry, Staechmann 59.6. Heat 8: Johnston, Staechmann, Nicholls, Svab 60.0. Heat 9: Gollob, Hurry, Wiltshire, Clouting 59.5. Heat 10: Gollob, Crump, Johnston, Rickardsson 59.7. Heat 11: Louis, Nicholls, Staechmann, Hurry 60.2. Heat 12: Wiltshire, Rickardsson, Clouting, Staechmann 60.5. Heat 13: Crump, Gollob, Louis, Hurry 61.1. Heat 14: Rickardsson, Staechmann, Wiltshire, Svab (e/f) 60.6. Heat 15: Crump, Johnston, Rickardsson, Gollob 60.6.

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