World champion Tony Rickardsson bade farewell to Oxford fans in sensational style with a stunning maximum as Cheetahs ended their miserable start to the season with a stunning 50-44 victory over leaders Reading at Cowley Stadium yesterday morning.

More than 2,000 fans packed the stadium for the holiday bonanza, starring world champion Rickardsson, (pictured getting the better of greh Hancock in the first heat) who was making his final appearance at Oxford.

And he saved the best to last with an awesome display racking up 15 points that had Cheetahs' fans purring after eight successive defeats.

Promoter Aaron Lanney did half a lap of the track in his underpants after this incredible result.

It wasn't just about Rickardsson though.

He was the inspiration maybe, but the likes of Adam Skornicki, Eric Andersson, David Howe and Davey Watt and even the unlucky Lubos Tomicek busted a gut to ensure the Bulldogs returned home with their tails between their legs.

Promoter Lanney, after getting his breath back, said: "This a massive relief. It was brilliant, the fans were brilliant and whatever happens from now on, we should enjoy this moment."

The start was delayed to allow queueing fans to get in, while the track, that had been drenched by the early morning rain, came under criticism from both sets of riders before the meeting could get under way.."

It was a tricky surface and found out quite a few riders including Cheetahs' Adam Pietraszko who threw away at least three points by shutting off at the pits bend and ending up in the fence.

Rickardsson was pure class and made Hancock look second rate as he came out on top three times the last two with some devastating dashes round the outside out of the pits bend.

Mind you, he was lucky in heat ten as he was shoved wide at the first bend and almost came to a halt expecting the referee to order all four back.

However, his luck was in as Travis McGowan piled into the air fence at the pits bend. Rickardsson made no mistake in the re-run.

The world champion opened proceedings with a great first heat, while Eric Andersson swooped under for a 5-1.

The Bulldogs replied in kind when Pietraszko fell in second place, but thereafter Oxford gained the ascendency and never looked back.

Nobody in the sport would ever have imagined that the current Oxford side would be in a position to force the Bulldogs into tactical rides.

But it happened in heat nine, where although Charlie Gjedde gated, he was no match for Skornicki who took no prisoners as he edged the Dane wide for a shared heat.

Reading tried it again two heats later and this time Hancock was equal to the task, racking up a six-point score to limit the damage.

Oxford looked to have sealed an unlikely victory when Rickardsson blasted clear of Hancock in heat 13, but a Reading 4-2 in the penultimate heat gave them a slim chance of a draw.

However, Rickardsson was determined to go out in a blaze of glory as he ruled the roost with his fifth straight victory in the final heat.

It signalled the start of pandemonium as Rickardsson pulled wheelies and Skornicki performed the donut.

The home fans went wild as Lanney did lap of honour!

The win had been a long time coming, but it was a fantastic day for Cheetahs.

Oxford: Rickardsson 15, Skornicki 11+1, Andersson 7+1, Watt 7, Howe 7, Tomicek 3+2, Petraszko 0. 50 pts.

Reading: Hancock 11, McGowan 8, Gjedde 8+2, Kolodziej 8, Zagar 5, Smith 2, Simota 2. 44pts.