The riders raced for the ninth time this year and fans witnessed a new level of competition. Only six nights remain in the 2008 season at the velodrome. Here's how things have shaped up so far:
 
In Cat 1, 2 hard competition is chiseling the pack. Brain Crosby enjoys a comfortable 30 point lead over Chris Ferris in the Rider of the Year standings. But his lead means a single missed night and the two would be wheel to wheel. A pack of strong riders is fighting for third place. Andy Kruse, Mike Sobol, Peter Schweich, Joe Johnson and Dan Schueller - five riders among the strongest racing at the Velodrome - are separated by only 20 points. Anything can happen in this tough category.
 
The Cat 3 peloton's performance has been rising fast powered  by strong racing from Pat Lemieux and Andy Frye. The rest of the pack is pushing hard. Some of the most intense competition of the season has been in this category.
 
The Cat 4, 5 pack has grown in 2008 with a number of new riders leaving the potholes and traffic of road racing for the friendly, if competitive, confines of the track.  This includes several very strong riders, four of whom have already upgraded to Cat 3.
 
The Dahlmann sisters' lock on the top of the women's scoring is coming under attack.  Elena Dorr and Linsey Hamilton lead the charge, with Hamilton's two consecutive state championships bridging the gap.

The only women's Keirin for 2008 created a new opportunity for the riders and an intense race for the fans. Linsey Hamilton edged Heidi Dahlmann and Gwen Steel at the line for her second straight state championship.
 
With nine women present at the track last Thursday, the group split into two heats of four and five riders and the first three to cross the line in each heat qualified for the final. "I was so excited. It was my first Keirin race and I really didn't know what to expect. I had a lot of fun despite the fact I didn't qualified for the final. I hope we will have more of those," said Megan Lennon.
 
Six riders stood on the line at the sound of the gun. As Keirin's do, the race started slowly as the group discussed the drafting order. After a couple laps on Skibby's wheel, the pack found its shape and didn't move at all until the motorbike left the track. Linsey Hamilton, Gwen Steel and  Heidi Dahlmann immediately jumped over the crowd to take the lead and sprint for the line while Elena Dorr and Melissa Dahlmann sparred at the back, waiting for the right opportunity to attack.The couple of seconds they lost might have cost them the victory. Across the finish line, the riders were so close that it took the referees a couple of minutes to make their decision.  The final podium featured Linsey Hamilton, Heidi Dahlmann and Gwen Steel finishing 1, 2, 3.