Reigning Champion Aidan Collins got his defence of the Grand National UK Flat Track Championship off to the perfect start by winning the opening round at Oxford Stadium last night, writes ROBERT PEASLEY.

Former Workington Comets speedway star Collins just held off the challenge of 17-year-old Australian sensation Tyson Nelson in a thrilling 15-lap final.

With 12 riders per race, there was plenty of scintillating action. Nelson came from around tenth to first, to win a heat 2.

There was a fantastic scrap between Nelson and Collins in heat 8, which saw the two passing and re-passing for the lead, until Nelson emerged as the winner.

There was local interest in the Thunderbikes support class, with Oxford’s Anthony Brown finishing in second place behind Italy’s Jacopo Monti.

RESULTS Grand National UK Flat Track Championship 1st round: 1 A Collins, 2 T Nelson, 3 J Monti, 4 T Woolley.

Thunderbikes: 1 J Monti, 2 A Brown, 3 A Birtwistle Short Track Mini-Bikes: 1 M Richardson, 2 S Baldock, 3 G Bull Dash for Cash winner: T Nelson.