Bojangles

Say hello to Francis Gusts. Just been confirmed as the last Spires rider for 2025.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but it's left a nice 8.9 (Leon Madsen, et al) shaped hole. And the fact that it'll be the last signing announced also has to be a good sign. 1. Leon Madsen 2. Erik Riss 3. Maciej Janowski 4. Charles Wright 5. Rohan Tungate 6. Peter Kildemand 7. Luke Killeen Not a bad team that!

I presume he'll start at reserve on that average as well.

They will surely leave the biggest signing to last, no? Will be such an anti-climax otherwise. Kildemand on a 5, and Madsen on an 8. Job done.

Jody Scott and Jacob Clouting also back with the Chargers in 2025.

I've heard Madsen's name a couple of times this week as well.... nothing on Kubera, though. I'd happily take either.

Of course it's relevant as you stated it was a prime example of a rider who would have benefited from more rides. Jacob Fellows had numerous rides around Oxford, in practice (doing lap after lap following meetings) and racing, and he never progressed - there was no improvement, as the scores show. Why do you think an extra ride or two would have made the difference? I get the essence of your original point, though, but perhaps using Fellows wasn't a good example.

It's not about win at all costs, it's about developing the right riders who have a future in the sport. If Fellows was taken out for a 36-year-old journeyman, then I agree with you. If he's taken out and replaced by a more promising rider who would benefit more, then I'm all for it.

You seem to have omitted Jacob Fellows' scores in those meetings... H vs Leicester: 1+1 (scored a point as Max James was excluded) H vs Belle Vue: 0 - A vs Belle Vue: 0 A vs Mildenhall: 1 (scored point as Sam Woods was excluded) Would he have benefited more from an extra ride half a lap behind the opposition, or did Luke Killeen (etc.) benefit more from those extra rides? Yes, it's a development league, but riders should still be competitive at that level if they want the rides surely? Jacob Fellows could have been in 7 heats in those meetings and he would have scored the same (bar exclusions) as he was so far off the pace. Instead the likes of Luke Killeen got them, and look where he is now.

He'll be straight back in the Oxford team the second he's fit enough. Whoever is signed at 5 as a replacement (Riss?) will be well aware of that, and on a relevant contract I'm sure.

Oxford is a Wednesday track.

Nicholls having an operation on his shoulder tomorrow. Oxford confirmed he will miss the start of the season.

If Gilkes has been tapped up by Oxford, it surely means either Jenkins or Heeps won't be in the team next year. Can't see Jenkins having much trouble getting a spot elsewhere, but who would want Heeps? Big difference between his home and away average this season.

No space in the Spires team... 1. TBC 2. Riss 3. Janowski 4. Wright 5. Tungate 6. Schlein 7. Killeen

You dislike them because of the fans behaviour, NOT just because of the success.