Oxford Cheetahs enjoyed their best night so far in a difficult year by picking up their first bonus point after beating Eastbourne Eagles 50-42 at Oxford Stadium last night.

Cheetahs were forced to go into the meeting without guest Jason Lyons when it was discovered by the British Speedway Promoters Association that his average was fractionally too high 0.2 to cover for Davey Watt.

But fortunately, new No 8 Stan Burza was on hand to step in and picked up paid eight points.

And Burza the 'Buzzer' didn't let Lanney down with a superb display on his first look at the Cowley track.

He gave solid support, with a paid eight points, to top men Todd Wiltshire and Adam Skornicki on probably the best all round display this year.

Eastbourne had to use rider-replacement for the injured Adam Shields and didn't quite measure up to a hungry Cheetahs on the night.

Cheetahs didn't have the best of starts as Edward Kennett and David Norris wiped the floor with a slow-gating Todd Wiltshire.

But Oxford hit back with Eric Andersson and Lubos Tomicek equally as dismissive of the Eagles reserves.

We then saw the best of David Howe then teamed up with Adam Skornicki with a superb effort, Howe taking Dean Barker for another maximum.

Wiltshire again was slow away in heat six as Nicki Pedersen ruled supreme, but Burza beavered away for his first points for Oxford in second.

However, Kennett and Dean Barker then pulled the visitors back to within four points at 23-19.

Heat eight saw was expected to go to Kennett, but the fast-trapping Andersson joined by Burza for an unlikely 5-1 and Cheetahs were looking good despite their handicaps to Watt and Dryml.

Heat nine was re-run. First Cameron Woodward was excluded under the two-minute rule to be replaced by Lewis Bridger, and then Howe crashed out when in last place. Pedersen took the re-run.

Wiltshire found his normal fire from the gate in heat 11 and was soon joined by Burza, who did a magical job in keeping Dean Barker at bay.

Wiltshire had Norris's measure when the Eastbourne man was brought in as a tactical ride after the interval.

The Oxford skipper followed that up with another brilliant burst from the tapes.

Things got even better as Skornicki and Tomicek tucked in behind Barker and they only needed to share the final heat for that elusive first bonus point.

And with Norris coming to an abrupt halt in the last, Cheetahs were home and dry.

f=Helvetica s=6q=fOxford: Wiltshire 13+1, Skornicki 13+1, Howe 7+2, Burza 6+2, Andersson 6, Tomicek 5+2. 50pts.

Eastbourne: Pedersen 13+1, Norris 9+1, Barker 8, Kennett 7, Bridger 4+1, Woodward 1. 42pts.

oCHEETAHS are away to play-off chasing Ipswich Witches in the Elite League tonight.

f=Helvetica s=6q=fOxford: Wiltshire, Burza, Skornicki, Howe, Rider-replacement, Tomicek, Andersson. It meant Oxford pulled ahead by ten points and soon after the interval Norris was brought in as a tactical ride, but Captain Marvel, Wiltshire, had his measure and not too much damage was done and Oxford were looking good for victory on the night and chasing the bonus point.

The Oxford skipper followed that up with another brilliant burst from the tapes and both Pedersen and Norris couldn't get near him to keep Cheetahs on track and things got even better as Skornicki and Tomicek tucked in behind Barker and they only needed to share the final heat for that elusive first bonus point.

It didn't look that way though as Pedersen led and Norris skated past Skornicki for at that stage of the race there would have been a run-off for the bonus, but a few seconds after Norris came to an abrupt halt and Cheetahs were home and dry.

Oxford: Wiltshire 13+1, Skornicki 13+1, Howe 7+2, Burza 6+2, Andersson 6, Tomicek 5+2. 50pts.

Eastbourne: Pedersen 13+1, Norris 9+1, Barker 8, Kennett 7, Bridger 4+1, Woodward 1. 42pts.

CHEETAHS are away to play-off chasing Ipswich Witches in the Elite League tonight.

Oxford: Wiltshire, Burza, Skornicki, Howe, Rider-replacement, Tomicek, Andersson.

Oxford Cheetahs star Ales Dryml has been released from the Radcliffe Infirmary just two weeks after the horrific crash which left him fighting for his life.

He is on his way home to the Czech Republic, just a week after regaining consciousness following the nasty accident which left him with severe head injuries.