Bojangles

I think the Berwick fans are being a little harsh on their team. Bar Poole, they were basically the most competitive team I've seen at Oxford this season. The three late 5-1s definitely flattered Oxford at the end - looked like it was going to be much closer before that. It was also going to be hard for a number of Bandits riders to score big when they are facing either Masters, Nicholls or Kerr in the majority of races. Schlein was superb, battled hard and never gave up.

There’s a lot of sour grapes on this thread…

It's not all doom and gloom, and think the figures quoted might be slightly higher than reality. I have it on good authority that Oxford broke even by the start of August last season, and everything after that was pure profit. They probably are getting over 2,000 fans a week, though, but costs can't have been that high if they were able to quickly recoup that loss and then start to make money. Admittedly this is the Championship we are talking about, so costs will be slightly lower, but then there's no TV money either.

Oxford to maintain their unbeaten start? A win would see the Cheetahs go nine points clear at the top. Cheetahs: 1. Sam Masters, 2. Henry Atkins, 3. Lewis Kerr, 4. Jordan Jenkins, 5. Scott Nicholls, 6. Cameron Heeps, 7. Ryan Kinsley. Bandits: 1. Rory Schlein, 2. Jye Etheridge, 3. Jonas Knudsen, 4. Leon Flint, 5. Thomas Jorgensen, 6. Jacob Hook, 7. Connor Coles.

Oxford have a lease in place until at least 2031.

A bit of drizzle? Did you see the meeting? I'm amazed it even started - fair play to them for even giving it a go.

While I agree with most of what you say, he's not coming back to top up his pension pot is he. He's giving up Sweden, so he'll probably be earning less.

Haha, thanks. I was beginning to think that might be the case.

Does anybody know when the SGP3 semi-final line-ups will be named? Any idea who will the Brits will be? It's only a couple of weeks away now.

Yeah, I appreciate that, I just haven't seen anybody being cautious in regards to Boughen. Only heard superlatives (apart from the Workington fiasco, but that didn't exactly involve anything he did on a bike).

Agreed, which would be quite an achievement for a 15 year-old. I don't think he's underrated - the exact opposite in fact. Surely one of the most exciting prospects in the country right now.

No, they will have arguably lost away from home against the two other best teams in the league. Nothing wrong with that. If they also beat you at your place, then I think you can start to worry.

Steady on, I'm not sure my original response to Skidder was exactly about Oxford! Was more about Poole's form heading into this fixture, which was relevant to this thread, no? But blame me if you want.... anyway I'm heading off to buy a Glasgow scarf for the final

So you're saying it should have been only 10 points, and it's still unacceptable. Sigh! Newsflash, every team is built to the same points limit - you're never going to win every meeting like you think you should.

They lost away from home by 14 points (not 30) to a team that's top of the league and unbeaten. Some perspective is needed.

Haha. Classic!

Poole lost one meeting in June - away from home I might add - and they’re having a mid-season lull?! Hilarious.

I don’t think that’s the case. A winning team is great, but Workington’s return certainly won’t count for nothing if they don’t make the playoffs. What they’ve done has been amazing. Just look at Oxford last year, it wasn’t a winning team and it was a huge success….and they built on that for this season.

Problem for Belle Vue is I can’t see Oxford, Mildenhall or Leicester losing many (if any) at home. That means if the Colts win their last two away matches, it probably won’t be enough as they’ve already lost five away. They are going to have to hoover up pretty much every bonus point and hope for the best.

Big win for Oxford. That has to make them favourites I think, and they'll be even stronger when (if) Killeen returns. Playoffs might be a stretch for Workington now sadly - going to have to win a lot of away meetings. Leicester the only dangers to an Oxford v Mildenhall final?

I was hoping for a 'Yawn'

Bad weather forecasts seem to make you very sleepy!

Oxford sending a weakened side up for this unfortunately. Alfie Bowtell guesting for Jordan Jenkins, who is still injured. While it'll be rider replacement for Kelsey Dugard and Sam Woods is guesting for Luke Killeen. Elliot Kelly also back for Workington I believe.

They are now....but not sure you would have said that at the start of the season, though. Masters speaks for himself, but Nicholls and Atkins have far exceeded what was expected of them in my opinion - and Jenkins is also improving every week. On the flip side you'd have to say Howarth, Worrall and Barker have all underperformed.

But Oxford built their team in exactly the same way, and they are sitting in the exact opposite position having won every league meeting. Proves it wasn't a bad philosophy at the start of the season and it could have worked, but rider form is the issue.