Wolverhampton Wolves 53, Oxford Silver Machine 40: A brilliant 18-point maximum from Greg Hancock could not prevent Oxford Silver Machine slipping to a heavy defeat in last night's opening Elite League fixture at Monmore Green.

The American scored 18 points, but Wolverhampton's knowledge of their home track was to prove decisive.

Silver Machine got off to a flying start with a maximum 5-1 in the first heat.

The advantage was retained in the second heat as the Machine's reserve pairing of Emil Kramer and Jonas Davidsson filled the minor placings behind Wolves' Chris Neath.

The Wolves levelled the score as the impressive pairing of Adam Skornicki and Daniel Nermark easily disposed of Ryan Fisher and Niels-Kristian Iversen, who was caught out on the tight Monmore turns and he did well to hold onto his bike.

Silver Machine never got their noses in front again.

Two shared heats followed. The quality of the racing was excellent, with the home side knowing where they could pass and seemingly overtaking their visitors at will.

Heat five was an example of that, with Travis McGowan and Nermark having a ding-dong battle for the entire four laps before the Oxford man just missed out.

Heat ten saw Oxford go eight points behind and again it was the middle pairing of Fisher and Iversen who were on the wrong side of the Wolves' wrath.

This did mean that the Silver Machine could introduce a tactical joker, and this they did with Hancock who was right back to his best form.

He duly won the heat, for six points, and at one point it looked as if the battling McGowan was going to pick up third.

Neath was to deny him, but it was not for the sake of trying on the young Australian's part.

The reprieve for Oxford was shortlived as they suffered another maximum loss in the 12th heat, with Fisher trailing in last again.

The Oxford management tried the joker for a second time, this time nominating Sebastian Ulamek.

It did not work on this occasion. Although Hancock duly won the heat, Ulamek was stone last.

Another 5-1 for the home side in the penultimate heat sealed Oxford's fate and they will have to work very had to claim the bonus point when they open their home Elite League campaign against Wolves at Sandy Lane on Friday night.

Wolverhampton: M Max 12, C Neath 10+2, A Skornicki 9+1, S Ermolenko 8+1, D Howe 7+3, D Nermark 7+3, E Carrillo 0.

Oxford: G Hancock 18, S Ulamek 6, E Kramer 5+1, T McGowan 5+1, N-K Iversen 3, R Fisher 2, J Davidsson 1+1.