Oxford start 2002 season with a win.

Reigning Elite League champions Oxford launched the 2002 speedway season with a narrow 47-43 victory in a challenge fixture with Coventry tonight. A strength in depth performance from the Cheetahs with reserves Andrew Appleton and Mark Lemon in fine form.

Coventry sported the biggest individual performances - Billy Hamill being beaten by an opponent just once and Andreas Jonsson breaking double figures - but the Cheetahs packed in with their all-round show of strength winning the day.

They took control early on with a maximum thanks to Appleton and Lemon. Coventry hit back with a maximum of their own in heat five when Hamill won from debutant Ryan Fisher.

But then the Cheetahs stung the Bees with a 4-2 in the next heat followed by an Ales Dryml/Lemon maximum in heat eight to put the home side up by six points at the mid-meeting point.

Coventry fought back again with a maximum of their own in heat ten, which could have been a 5-0 after Ales Dryml pulled out with engine problems and Brian Andersen fell, but remounted to take the point. Oxford up by just two points now.

Make that six as Lukas Dryml took heat twelve with teammate Lemon following him home. But still the Bees would not lie down as Hamill won heat thirteen with Jonsson third to make it a four point meeting with just three heats left. Still all to race for.

That was until Appleton capped a fine night with his second win of the evening in heat fourteen. Steve Johnston in second with the Bees pair in rear made the overall score 46-38 and a home victory was in the bag.

It mattered little that Hamill and Jonsson finished off with a Coventry maximum in the final heat other than to make the final score Oxford 47, Coventry 43. The two sides meet again tomorrow (Saturday) night at Coventry for the return fixture.

A notable performance from Coventry's new teenage American Ryan Fisher to score six (paid ten) points on his debut.

Oxford 47 Coventry 43, Friday 15 March 2002, Challenge fixture

Oxford 47
Brian Andersen 8
Ales Dryml 3
Lukas Dryml 7
Steve Johnston 5
Leigh Adams 8
Andrew Appleton 7
Mark Lemon 9

Coventry 43
Billy Hamill 13
Billy Janniro 0
Lee Richardson 7
Stuart Robson 4
Andreas Jonsson 11
Ryan Fisher 6
Wayne Carter 2