BIRMINGHAM'S much-awaited return to a full team of seven riders ended in a 49-40 defeat against Reading at Perry Barr on Wednesday night.

The BRC Brummies put in plenty of effort but with several members of the side returning from injury, race rustiness was an issue against a fast-starting Racers outfit.

Earlier in the day the stadium had been visited by psychic medium Philip Solomon in a bid to lift the apparent curse on the 2008 season so far and at least the Brummies finished with all seven riders still standing - even though James Birkinshaw had another major scare.

The popular Brummies' reserve was giving his all as ever in Heat 8 but hit the fence on the fourth bend just as he had moved into the lead, falling heavily but fortunately walking away with just bruising.

However, that race turned into a double-whammy because with Jack Hargreaves retiring from the re-run, the Racers took the lead with a 5-0 and they never looked back.

The visitors provided ten of the 15 race wins, Craig Watson winning his first three for the Brummies and Jason Lyons picking up two mid-meeting successes.

With three heats to go the solid-scoring visitors held a slender three-point lead, but they finished off with three consecutive 4-2s, their win being secured by the enigmatic Tomas Suchanek and promising youngster Nicki Glanz in Heat 14.

BRC BRUMMIES: Jason Lyons 12, Craig Watson 9, Kyle Legault 6+1, Lee Smart 4+1, James Birkinshaw 4+1, Jack Hargreaves 3+1, Jack Roberts 2.

READING: Mark Lemon 10+1, Tom P Madsen 9, Josef Franc 8+1, Chris Mills 7, Tomas Suchanek 6, Jamie Smith 5, Nicki Glanz 4+1.