CHEETAHS WELCOME BACK HANS

OXFORD legend Hans Nielsen will be back at Cowley as guest of honour for their big re-launch meeting on Wednesday April 13.

Four-times World Champion Nielsen spent nine seasons of his glittering career with the Cheetahs and led them to three British League titles in the 1980s.

He remains involved in the sport as team manager of Denmark, and will make a special appearance in Oxford’s first competitive fixture since 2007 when they host Scunthorpe.

Nielsen said: “Oxford Stadium has a very special place in my heart. What the Cheetahs achieved during my time with the club was phenomenal and I have memories which will last a lifetime.

“Riding with the greats like the late Simon Wigg and Marvyn Cox and parading our Championships around the city centre in open top bus was the stuff of dreams back then.

“We had good crowds every race night and the energy we received from the fans made Oxford a club every rider in World speedway looked up to.

“I was beyond excited to learn last autumn that the Cheetahs were returning to competitive racing at Oxford Stadium. The news seems to have really captured the imagination of the city and attending the first meeting of the club’s new era is something I simply had to be part of.”