The hunt is on for the final two riders as Oxford Cheetahs make a bold bid to defend their hard-won Elite League title in 2002.

Having already signed Leigh Adams, Steve Johnston, Lukas and Ales Dryml plus Andrew Appleton, they have just 12.50 points to play with to complete the line-up.

That figure could be more than halved if popular Dane Brian 'The Axeman' Andersen returns to the fold. He is only on loan to Oxford from Coventry and if Bees' promoter Colin Pratt deides to recall the former World Under 21 champion for this year, Oxford's net for new talent will be stretched far and wide.

Their options are limited if they wish to include another Englishman, so I would imagine that co-promoters Steve and Vanessa Purchase will be looking to foreign shores to boost their squad.

The pair have a good idea of who they want, but are unwilling to reveal any clues at this stage.

Meanwhile, spare a thought for Mark Loram. Just three months ago he was still world champion, but now, he is without a British track for this year due to the limit of two Grand Prix riders per track.

It's a sad reflection on the sports governing body that they cannot create a programme to accomodate their own world champion.

Todd Wiltshire is another who is likely to be out in the cold after being discarded by Oxford for the same reason, and they aren't the only two facing hardship in the coming summer.

Oxford landed two honours in the Speedway Star 2001 winners and losers awards.

Cheetahs were honoured for their Elite League title success, as was local referee Mick Posselwhite, who made his debut as a Grand Prix referee.

On Cheetahs, they said: 'Over the short time the Purchases have been in charge, they have experienced the highs and lows, but 2001 was the summit as they landed the Elite League title.'

'OK, so they took advantage of the regulations when Lukas Dryml was injured, but what everyone conveniently forgot was that the young Czech had been scoring prolifically when he injured his knee.'

'He raced in the World Championship while sitting out domestic meetings, but he wasn't the first, and certainly won't be the last to put personal glory ahead of team commitment. No-one would have given Lukas a pat on the back had he come back and struggled match in and match out. '

'And credit the Oxford management for getting it right in the first place and sticking with the seven riders who rode in the first meeting of the season.'

On Eynsham-based referee Posselwhite, who made his bow as a GP referee in Denmark last year, the Star said: 'He had a baptism of fire, but came out of a tough first meeting with considerable kudos and respresents the younger set who are now proving that Britain breeds the top officials.

'He may still lack the gravitas and reputation of colleague Tony Steele, who continues to be rated as the world's top referee, but Mike is catching him up and can only help to improve the overall standard of refereeing.'

Oxford speedway legend Hans Nielsen, back in Oxford on a business trip this week, sought me out for advice on local golf courses, his second big love.

The record FIM medal winner took on current world longtrack champion Kelvin Tatum at Waterstock on Tuesday.