Oxford 2027

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

13 minutes ago, TigerIain said:

I think they might get a lot of 3-3 results as the top end is too strong leaving the bottom end too weak. A lot of pressure on Kileen to get heat advantages. You could see the team losing a lot of 5-1s in heats 2 and 8.

When Glasgow (2024) had a top end like that, they had a lot of last heat deciders (that went Tigers way right up until the Grand Final).

It could work for them, but I think they have spent too many points on the top 3. Still, I'm looking forward to them coming to Ashfield

Hodder on a 3-something average has shown he can get a maximum around Cowley, so the remaining three being weak isn’t a foregone conclusion.😂

FWIW I hope we keep Hodder, but given last season’s display at Oxford, he’d be a fantastic addition on that average. At reserve, of course.

[Bojangles]

7 minutes ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said:

Hodder on a 3-something average has shown he can get a maximum around Cowley, so the remaining three being weak isn’t a foregone conclusion.😂

FWIW I hope we keep Hodder, but given last season’s display at Oxford, he’d be a fantastic addition on that average. At reserve, of course.

The problem is, a 3-something average will be a number 2, not reserve. The reserves will be two 2-pointers.

The team is too top heavy for my liking, but it'll certainly be fun at Sandy Lane this year. 

Edited yesterday at 09:50 AM by Bojangles

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

28 minutes ago, Bojangles said:

The problem is, a 3-something average will be a number 2, not reserve. The reserves will be two 2-pointers.

The team is too top heavy for my liking, but it'll certainly be fun at Sandy Lane this year. 

Not a problem. 15-point maximums at home, 0 points away from home.

[Technik]

Howarth completes a very strong spearhead for the Cheetahs, however I see the same issue as already pointed out a lot of 3 - 3 race results & in those races where none of the top 4 are involved heavy losses & if one should have a poor night then it could be curtains.

I know Hagon is the name that has been thrown into the hat as the fifth rider, I'm not sure about him as I have seen him over a few seasons at a number of clubs & he seemed to get to a level but has not progressed since much like Jack Smith. I think Oxford could look at his 2026 team mate Mario Hausl he had his best return at Oxford last season (the same meeting Hodder scored big) & I think the young German on a sub 4.00 average can improve to be a solid support rider throuhout the season.

So far as reserves go I feel that Fletcher is a fast improving talent & should be looking to step up the league system & as Oxford are seen to offer their own talent pool the best chance to improve the second will come from the NDL squad with Summers taking the spot ahead of Vale.

[poole keith]

Agree tigerlain,also looking forward to their visits to poole,whether it turns out to be a good team or not those heatleaders should provide some great racing on their awaydays

[Nickinho]

13 minutes ago, Technik said:

I think Oxford could look at his 2026 team mate Mario Hausl he had his best return at Oxford last season (the same meeting Hodder scored big) & I think the young German on a sub 4.00 average can improve to be a solid support rider throughout the season.

 

Hausl is useless and puts in as much effort as a dead prostitute. Plus, he rarely turns up often claiming injury or other commitments. 

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

Sit one of those rubber head-and-torso first aid training things on a bike or sign Mario Hausl. They’d have an identical contribution.

[torpointfanatic22]

That's some long tail Oxford are going to have. Very, very good top 3 but they're going to need some serious luck with improvements at the bottom end.

[1o6]

Fairly certain Senna Summers will be one of the 2-point reserves

[Preston Comet]

2 hours ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said:

Sit one of those rubber head-and-torso first aid training things on a bike or sign Mario Hausl. They’d have an identical contribution.

Annie

[Toady]

7 hours ago, Technik said:

Howarth completes a very strong spearhead for the Cheetahs, however I see the same issue as already pointed out a lot of 3 - 3 race results & in those races where none of the top 4 are involved heavy losses & if one should have a poor night then it could be curtains.

I know Hagon is the name that has been thrown into the hat as the fifth rider, I'm not sure about him as I have seen him over a few seasons at a number of clubs & he seemed to get to a level but has not progressed since much like Jack Smith. I think Oxford could look at his 2026 team mate Mario Hausl he had his best return at Oxford last season (the same meeting Hodder scored big) & I think the young German on a sub 4.00 average can improve to be a solid support rider throuhout the season.

So far as reserves go I feel that Fletcher is a fast improving talent & should be looking to step up the league system & as Oxford are seen to offer their own talent pool the best chance to improve the second will come from the NDL squad with Summers taking the spot ahead of Vale.

Don’t you think Sam Hagon would thrive on being on the same side as Tom Brennan? It wasn’t long ago he showed lots of  potential.

[screm]

7 hours ago, 1o6 said:

Fairly certain Senna Summers will be one of the 2-point reserves

Senna Summers signs for Oxford.

[TigerIain]

8 hours ago, Nickinho said:

Hausl is useless and puts in as much effort as a dead prostitute. Plus, he rarely turns up often claiming injury or other commitments. 

 

8 hours ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said:

Sit one of those rubber head-and-torso first aid training things on a bike or sign Mario Hausl. They’d have an identical contribution.

I kinda agree with those but he did have a few big first bend offs last year, which wouldn't help his form or confidence. Don't forget also, mainly from 2 Hausl got a higher average than Anze Grmek got from mainly reserve at Plymouth, and lots of rumours that Grmek will be at Ashfield next year

1 hour ago, Toady said:

Don’t you think Sam Hagon would thrive on being on the same side as Tom Brennan? It wasn’t long ago he showed lots of  potential.

He did show talent in brief flashes last year, although he had something like 15 no scoring rides in a row through August. When he gated he was fast, but when he didn't he looked a mile off the pace. If he was a reserve I could see him coming back to Ashfield next year and being a match winner. Equally I could see him coming back and scoring 0!

The problem for me is that at Oxford he'd be number 2 with little prospect of going to reserve at any point for a confidence boost

[Bojangles]

1 hour ago, Toady said:

Don’t you think Sam Hagon would thrive on being on the same side as Tom Brennan? It wasn’t long ago he showed lots of  potential.

Absolutely. He's also got plenty of experience at Oxford having been a Charger, and always scored well back then.

[LisaColette]

2 hours ago, Toady said:

Don’t you think Sam Hagon would thrive on being on the same side as Tom Brennan? It wasn’t long ago he showed lots of  potential.

Been there done that. Didn't stop Sam struggling for half a season. 

[ASpeedwayfan]

I always liked Hagon at Poole. He was fantastic for his first few months, and Brennan and him always seemed to get on. I’d welcome Hagon back to Poole. 

[SteelShoe]

On 11/11/2026 at 8:36 PM, TheWellBehavedWorrall said:

Good. Nothing but respect and admiration for Kyle Howarth, so delighted to hear he’ll be back racing in 2027.

Find Riding Gear

 

Really rate the guy; was gutted when he left and I’m disappointed he won’t be back, but I fully understand the reasoning.

I understand from both this forum and a Glasgow club official (who warned me of his pending departure three weeks before the event) that his pregnant wife had faced some challenges, so naturally, I was delighted to learn of the Howarth clan becoming a four.

Wiltshire to Oxford is a helluva lot easier on the family life than Wiltshire to Glasgow.

He gives his all for sure.

[WookieboyDon]

Mitch McDiarmid just announced on Instagram he won't be racing the Championship next season.

[Hilly]

Seems to be Hagon at 2 but still room for a new 4 pointer 👍

[Pirates Of Poole]

Very strong top 3 but a long tail, will be interesting to see how that plays out through the whole season.