OXFORD Cheetahs will return to the track tonight in a special challenge match against the Wightlink Warriors.

The one-off clash at the Smallbrook Stadium on the Isle of Wight is their biggest meeting since the final race in Cowley almost 12 years ago.

More than 100 Oxford supporters are expected to make the trip.

A specially-formed squad is now complete and will be led by Oxford legend and former World No 2 Gordon Kennett.

He said: “It will be wonderful to go to a speedway meeting where the Oxford Speedway colours are again flying.

“It’s a great honour and a privilege to be asked to manage the Oxford side, because I really enjoyed my spell riding for the club.

“I was often a captain during my speedway career, but one thing I’ve never done is manage a side, so I’m looking forward to doing that, especially with so many up-and-coming riders representing Oxford.”

The last three riders to be confirmed are Nathan Stoneman, Charlie Brooks and Shaun Tedham.

Stoneman, who lives in Greater Leys, has happy recent memories of the Ryde track, scoring a 15-point maximum when Plymouth visited in May.

Fit again after a knee injury, he said: “It’s a big, fast open track, and it’s a got a few bumps as well.

“It’s possible to race around there – it’s not a follow-my-leader-type track.

“You can miss the gate by quite a margin and still win.

“We’ll go there and try to get a victory, because the campaign to revive speedway at the stadium in Oxford needs all the publicity that it can get.”

Brooks is only 17, but was part of the Eastbourne Eagles side who won the league and cup double last year.

Tedham, who rode for Wightlink in 2018, will be a reserve, alongside Jamie Sealey.

They join Danyon Hume and Connor Coles, who will be heat leaders alongside Stoneman, while Ryan Terry-Daley fill the second-string positions.

Wightlink Warriors’ line-up includes former Cheetah Scott Campos.

The winners of the meeting will be awarded the Cliff Peasley Memorial Trophy.

It is in memory of the former pit marshal and treasurer of Oxford Speedway Supporters’ Club, who died last month.

As part of an ongoing promotion, anyone aged 28 will be admitted free.

Gates open at 5.30pm, with the first race at 7pm.

Teams

Isle Of Wight Warriors: 1 Georgie Wood, 2 Chad Wirtzfeld, 3 Scott Campos, 4 Danno Verge, 5 Ben Morley, 6 Chris Widman, 7Connor King.

Oxford Cheetahs: 1 Danyon Hume, 2 Ryan Terry-Daley, 3 Connor Coles, 4 Charlie Brooks, 5 Nathan Stoneman, 6 Jamie Sealey, 7 Shaun Tedham.