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| |  | BIRMINGHAM were narrowly beaten 47-43 at Oxford on Thursday - but took things down to a last heat decider in their first fixture back in the top division.
It looked as though it could be a rude awakening in the Premiership for the Curtis Sport Brummies in the opening exchanges.
But Sam Ermolenko’s side produced some encouraging signs to take the meeting down to the wire.
Despite severe downpours in the build-up, both sets of riders were more than happy with how track conditions had held up under the circumstances.
But it was the hosts who got to grips with things the quickest and opened with a 5-1 maximum.
Back-to-back shared races followed, with reserve Zach Cook winning Heat Two, before a hat-trick of advantages saw Oxford open up a 25-11 lead with six gone.
Heat Seven saw the Brummies land their first advantage of the season - and a first win in British Speedway for Polish prospect Wiktor Lampart.
The 22-year-old flew away from the inside before racing to a stylish and comfortable victory.
Heat Eight saw home rider Charles Wright take a heavy tumble - and from the re-run, Brummies youngsters Leon Flint and Tom Brennan struck a 5-1 over Rising Star Ashton Boughen.
New signing Scott Nicholls ended Chris Harris’ unbeaten start and while ‘Bomber’ did work his way past Cook, Brummies were back within six.
Captain Steve Worrall got the better of former Grand Prix star Maciej Janoswki as he led a 3-3 before Oxford scored a 4-2 in Heat 11 with Brummies No.1 Vaclav Milik doing extremely well to stay on his machine after clipping the rear wheel of Lewis Kerr.
Cook came up with another big ride to lead a 4-2 in Heat 12 before Ermolenko introduced Worrall as a tactical substitute in Heat 13.
The skipper made a great getaway and when he was partnered out front by Nicholls, the Brummies were just two behind courtesy of their second 5-1 of the night.
A brilliant ride from Harris saw him deny the Second City side in the penultimate race as he found a way by Worrall and with Flint missing out to Kerr, four points was the difference.
The Brummies temporarily sat on the 5-1 they needed to force a Super Heat in the last race, but whilst Nicholls pulled clear out front, Harris muscled his way past Worrall who then missed out to Janowski on the run to the line.
The Brummies will be looking to take the plus points from opening night into their first home fixture of the season which sees them take on reigning Champions Sheffield at Perry Barr on Monday, March 25 (7.30).
PREMIERSHIP
OXFORD 47: Chris Harris 13, Maciej Janowski 9+2, Lewis Kerr 8+1, Charles Wright 5+1, Rohan Tungate 5, Nicolai Klindt 4+1, Ashton Boughen 3+1.
BIRMINGHAM 43: Scott Nicholls 11+1, Steve Worrall 11, Zach Cook 7, Tom Brennan 5+1, Wiktor Lampart 5+1, Leon Flint 3, Vaclav Milik 1.
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