OXFORD have made the first team change of the Premiership season by drafting in Erik Riss to replace Nicolai Klindt (pictured).
German Riss has been without a British team place so far but gets his chance at Cowley at the expense of Klindt. Spires team manager Peter Schroeck said: “Erik is really keen and has worked awfully hard on his fitness during the winter so it goes without saying we’re happy to have him on board. “He’s been a top rider at Championship level for many years and has established himself in the Premiership too. He has a great track record so we’re looking forward to having Erik in our corner on Thursday at Ipswich, which is a track he knows well. “I’d also like to thank Nicolai for his service to the club this year. It’s always tough to make changes, but we’re looking to the future and Nicolai leaves with our very best wishes.” In a statement on Facebook, Klindt said: “It totally came out of the blue, I didn’t expect it at all. I had just spoken to the club the day before about my form, which I knew wasn’t close to what anyone expected, but I was making changes to the next home meeting to try and solve the issues I have had. “We are currently top of the league and won three out of four meetings, so I found it very difficult to understand why the club would drop me already, especially with tracks I perform really well at coming up in the next few weeks. “I’d like to thank the promotion at Oxford for the short time I’ve been there and I respect their decision. I’d also like to thank my team-mates most of all, for making it fun riding there. Now I have got some time to get things in order, should another club ring, which I believe there will be when the averages change in May.”