“We need to bounce back”

The FTS Bandits, powered by Keenwood Karpets, have to put the disappointment of Saturday night behind them and concentrate on Wednesday’s trip to Birmingham.

That is the view of team manager Kevin Little after watching his new charges come up two points short of halting Oxford’s 100 per cent start to the Cab Direct Championship campaign.

“What’s gone is gone,” he said. “Collectively we battled away and led for most of the meeting even if we were not winning too many races.

“People might look at the scores of Jonas and Thomas but there was no lack of effort from them but both suffered machinery problems. Once again the reserves performed strongly while Jye looked much more like himself and was putting the back wheel out in the dirt.

“With Oxford losing Lewis Kerr in the first heat we certainly had a good opportunity but it was always going to be a night when there was not much between the sides, one decided by the odd point here and there.

“TJ’s breakdown after he had worked so hard to get to the front of heat seven was one of those things when the luck goes against you.

“That just goes to show how tight it was out there, within second we went from a shared heat to conceding four points.

“Having been involved in two last heat deciders with the Bullets and now this meeting with Oxford there is no question that the fans are getting entertainment at Shielfield but I accept that some will look no further than the result.

“For them it’s another defeat and I suppose the only way to bounce back is to go to Birmingham and put in a performance on Wednesday night.”

Pictures: Taz McDougall