Oxford Cheetahs will be looking to Todd Wiltshire for inspiration as they seek their first away win in the Elite League against Poole Pirates tonight.
Wiltshire launched his Grand Prix career by winning the Overseas final at Wimborne and obviously likes the circuit.
Even so, the Pirates are a hard nut to crack on their own patch.
With the likes of Grand Prix aces Antonio Lindback and Bjarne Pedersen to the fore, Poole will take some beating.With things very tight at the top half of the Elite League, they will bepushing to get into the play-off position, so Oxford won't get an easy ride.
Oxford should be in confident mood after last week's mermorable success over Swindon.
However, for Cheetahs' Eric Andersson it will be a first sight of the track, so he may need a couple of outings to get the feel of the place.
"Nobody will be expecting us to win at Wimborne Road," said promoter Aaron Lanney. "So there won't be any pressure on us.We'll just go out and perform to the best of our ability and you never know, stranger things have happened in the past.
"But I'm very confident of us beating them in the return at Cowley tomorrow, especially the way the team rode against Swindon last week.
"If we match that sort of performance, then we'll scupper the Pirate ship!"
New team averages came into effect on June 1 and mean a change in the Cheetahs' riding order.
Freddie Eriksson now rides at No 2, Davey Watt switches to No 3 berth, where he'll now ride alongside skipper David Howe. Adam Skornicki will be at No 5. "Im sure the switch around will be of benefit to us," added Lanney, "and in particular will take a little pressure off of skipper David Howe who's foundlife tough at times in the second heat leader role."
Lubos Tomicek is again missing and France rider Matthew Tressaruie, the official No 8, comes in.
Poole (with averages): B Pedersen (capt) 8.42, C Boyce 4.96, D Barker 5.88, A Lindback 7.50, K Kasprazak (r/r) 7.64, J Davidsson 4.63, S Tacey 4.00.
Oxford: T Wiltshire 8.37, F Eriksson 5.28, D Watt 5.24, D Howe (capt) 4.87, A Skornicki 5.85, M Tressaruie 3.00, E Andersson 3.85.
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