Workington Comets have booked hot-prospect Ashton Boughen to fill their number one spot at Oxford tonight.
Connor Bailey is absent because of Redcar’s fixture at Poole tonight so Bowen, not 16 until next Monday, has been booked as a guest.
Boughen, the Leicester Lions Cup rider, has been in superb form across the country, as local fans saw at Northside when he won the inaugural Susan Roper Memorial Grand Prix three weeks ago.
The newly crowned 500cc British Youth Champion only started in speedway in June last year after building a reputation on the Motocross circuit where he rose to British champion, and eighth in the world.
The Oxford Chargers won 51-39 at Northside back in June and on their own track will be favourites to complete the double.
However, Comets team boss James Denham is not going there to make up the numbers.
He said: “We need to get a result. It will be tough no doubt, but the lads are definitley capable.
“We have Ashton as a guest at number one and wherever he’s gone this year he’s scored big points, so we’re hoping he continues that run for us. But we need all the lads on form tonight.
“Hopefully with our great finish to the Kent match at Iwade a week or so ago we have some momentum to go to Oxford with and push them.”
Ace Pijper comes into this match after a superb showing at Glasgow last Friday in the Championship, scoring 6+2 points and beating British Finalist Ben Barker along the way.
Reserves Elliot Kelly and Harry McGurk put in solid showings at Kent nearly two weeks ago scoring 7 points and 3+2 respectively.
Also, skipper Luke Crang will be hoping to carry on where he left off at Kent with a much-needed heat win in his last ride.
Oxford are fielding a strong heat leader lineup with 2022 NDL Riders Champion and in-form Jordan Jenkins leading the pack at number 1, being backed up by Henry Atkins and the experienced Ryan Kinsley.
Oxford also have reserve Luke Killeen back in their lineup who has just recently returned from injury and also have a hugely improved youngster in their septet in Jody Scott at number 4.
It is also a debut for the Charger’s new reserve, Jason Garrod. He replaces former Comet at the start of the season, Kelsey Dugard. Kelsey is still suffering from recurring injuries after the crash at Northside at the start of the season.
Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “Today marks the start of a big month for the Chargers. I’ve always had faith in this team to deliver and the weather has frustrated us all in recent weeks.
“But that’s an element we cannot control. What we can control is how we respond to our fixture break by delivering a good performance in front of our supporters.
“The boys have been racing elsewhere so being sharp at the tapes isn’t a concern. Regardless, Workington are in need of points on the road so we’ll need to prepare accordingly and do what we had been doing successfully up until the conclusion of our last fixture.”
Workington’s Australian number one Connor Bailey rode for Redcar last night as they won 49-41 at Plymouth in the Championship.
He scored seven and a bonus from his five rides which included a win, a second and two thirds. Comets team-mate Luke Harrison scored a point from three rides at reserve.
Missing out in the Bears line-up was ex-Comet Charles Wright following a fall in his last heat in the British Final on Monday night. He will also miss tonight’s meeting with Poole.
- Meanwhile footage of Nicolai Klindt’s crash in Poland at the weekend has emerged.
????⚪️ No i zaległy dzwon weekendu, czyli upadek @nklindt + #FrancusGusts + @OliverBerntzon w trakcie #OSTLOD. HEAL UP FELLAS!!!
— Park Maszyn (@ParkMaszyn) August 15, 2023
Ps. Już dziś o 20:00 audycja live!!! pic.twitter.com/RT55AYlMGo
