John Gaisford reflects on a disappointing end to the Cheetahs' season . . .

AND so another season comes to an end with Oxford Cheetahs never looking remotely likely to hang on to their Elite League title.

AWXML: <image large="sport-speedway.gif" small="sport-speedway.gif" type="portrait"></image>Cheetahs ended the season as they started - by going down in a competitive enc- ounter.

Yet, despite losing Todd Wiltshire out of their champ- ionship-winning seven due to the controversial Grand Prix riders restriction rule, they began with a home and away win against deadly rivals Coventry and optimism in the camp was high.

However, three defeats in the opening four league meetings put a damper on things.

Danish star Brian Andersen was then injured, missing five meetings.

He attempted a comeback, but it lasted just four fruitless meetings before he had to admit defeat for the season with a head and neck injury which took doctors a long time to sort out.

Add to that Cheetahs' inconsistency and injuries to Ales Dryml, plus the struggle in the reserve spot which eventually led to Andrew Appleton being loaned out to Reading, and team boss Colin Meredith had plenty of porblems to overcome.

Mark Lemon proved a good signing and twice hit paid 14 scores, but the star man again without a doubt was Leigh Adams.

Failing to reach double figures just a couple of times throughout the season, he became frustrated at losing after giving his all week in week out.

However, he achieved a long-awaited ambition of landing his first ever Grand Prix win with victory in Sweden, and has a good chance of a top three place in Sydney.

What can you say about Lukas Dryml? Catapulted on to the world stage following his first Grand Prix season, the Czech youngster has been a revelation.

Not only has he taken the world's best on and beaten them, he also reached both finals in Sweden.

He has frustrated Cheetahs fans at times in league racing, but towards the end of the season he was looking more and more a world-class rider.

Will we see the like of Adams, Dryml and Steve Johnston here next season?

That's anyone's guess as we have to endure the painful closed season when Cheetahs future will be decided.

However, it won't necessarily be their decision as the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA) have a job on their hands to form an Elite League next year that satisfies clubs regrading the availability of riders.

Just as important for the stadiums involved will be organising regular racing nights.

Club custodian, as Steve Purchase wishes to be known, has put his cards on the table.

He has taken on the BSPA, more or less saying do it properly or Oxford will pull out.

He has applied to join the Premier League which will guarantee regular racing with no interference from the Grand Prix.

The majority of the fans will accept a lower grade of racing if it's the only speedway they can have.

But let's hope it doesn't come to that and we can see the world's best riders going flat out at one of the best speedway stadiums in the country.