Bojangles

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.

Yeah, I edited my previous post to try and clarify that a bit. Don't think it's totally the same - some serial winners are loved (the likes of Roger Federer/Usain Bolt come to mind), while others are disliked (Floyd Mayweather, etc.) because of the way they act.

The main part of the dislike for Poole is the way their fans behave, surely?

They're wrong. Those averages don't include any cup of playoff fixtures. Hardly 2024 averages! Typical British Speedway.

Where did you get 6.19 from? It's 6.43 Meetings: 31 Rides: 150 Points: 216 Bonus: 25 Total: 241 Average: 6.43

Yeah, I doubt he was cheap! Maybe Ashton felt a bit disgruntled that Luke Killeen rose above him in the pecking order.... or he just wanted to race at Glasgow each week as he likes it there. Either way, I'd rather have him than not have him.

He's deleted his FB post saying he's signed for Oxford Cheetahs in 2025.

I'd say Oxford get bigger crowds than both.

Yeah, I'm sure he would laugh and laugh if he read that. There's one plonker, and it's not me. You're a grown man - almost a pensioner apparently - grow up!

Not picking on him? You posted a picture of a tricycle and said he need to practice on that!

Absolute nonsense. This is a prime example of somebody having read a few comments on a forum and has judged Boughen because of it. Have you ever seen him actually race live? I've said multiple times on this forum, it's not a traffic thing. He lifts off on the first lap on occasion (most noticeable at the start/first bend), but then gets going for the rest of the race and is quick. No idea why he does it, but he does. It's not really held back his progression (other than towards the end of this season), so let's see what he does next year before writing him off. Perfect example that 1) he lifts off on the first lap, but 2) he's not afraid to mix it in traffic right here...

If Oxford were to pull out of the Championship KO Cup like they did in the Premiership, and the BSN Series were ditched (can't see a place for this in a 2H2A league), then a 2H2A season would add a grand total of 0 Cheetahs fixtures to the calendar (16 new league fixtures - 8 less KO Cup fixtures and 8 less BSN Series fixtures). Of course that scenario is based on KO Cup and BSN Series finals appearances, but you get the idea. Certainly sounds doable. Should stress this isn't on Oxford, though. Oxford aren't holding the SCB to ransom like some have claimed, it simply must have already been decided that 1H1A will be happening in 2025 for them to have declared they are running in three leagues. Unless something like the above scenario has been agreed upon.

Yes.... and no. Had a lot more Championship fixtures (30 out of a possible max of 36 - 83%), but could have been worse in the Premiership if they had been in the KO Cup and made the playoffs (24 out of a possible max of 34 - 71%). Basically Oxford raced in 64 (80%), but could have been 80 if they had been in all comps and reached the final of each. They also staged the Championship Pairs and British Under-19 Championship, so they couldn't have been that stretched with the fixtures.

Sam Masters was very coy when Richard Palmer 'accidentally' asked him if he was coming to the Spires in 2025 at the end of season bash. Didn't really know what to say, just said he "loved Oxford" and quickly backed away from the mic.

It would be an additional eight fixtures if the Championship were to go 2H2A. Just six more if they ditch the BSN Series. It's probably just about doable, but wouldn't leave much wiggle room for rain offs. I can't imagine Oxford would willingly sign up for all three leagues and make a big announcement about it if a change to 1H1A was in doubt to be honest. It must have already been decided. Then again, this is speedway and stranger things have happened.

I think he probably meant to say playoff and KO Cup 'finals'. Playoffs A vs Oxford - 4+1 H vs Oxford - 10+2 KO Cup A vs Oxford - 11+1 H vs Oxford - 8+3 That's 33+7 (40) in four meetings. Hardly laughable.

That's the problem. If he does continue to do it, then it's going to backfire on Oxford and King's Lynn in 2025. However, he's got that potential to significantly raise his average if he finds his form again. I think I'd rather have in my team in case it's the latter. A lot easier to release him if he struggles (let's hope it doesn't come to that) than try and sign him if he's in red-hot form.

If it is Rowe, and then Cairns comes in.... going to be tough to beat again in 2025.

Could arguably be said that makes Oxford stronger - at Poole, anyway.

I think we've crossed wires here. I wasn't talking about Simon Lambert's performances in isolation, I was talking about you comparing him to Scott Nicholls (and Nicholls when the track was dry). Anyway, let's draw a line under it as I don't think we're going to agree, and look forward to tonight instead.

So, just to clarify.... are you saying Lambert is an improvement on Nicholls, or not? Because I read your 'he [Lambert] got 12 last year, double what Nicholls did in the play off final' as quite different to foreverblue's 'He [Lambert] will give his best but Scott Nicholls he isn't'. So which point are you trying to make, because I'm obviously 'not reading it properly'?

Paul Muchene. He may not have been a future world champion, but was an honest rider who was starting to make his way in the sport. Taken too early after a horrific crash at Hackney in 1989.