I guess the other Poole riders were more wise to it this year! Plus Hagon was at no2 for last half of the season and if he did have a good race was normally H8 (unless he was taken out of it). Also Sam goes quite wide into the bends especially 3 and 4 (which doesn’t really work early in the meeting) so maybe Rich not comfortable team riding then as could lose team points. *that was quite difficult using words that people won't turn into something dodgy like yesterday!*

Whilst this may look like an opportunity for more track time for NDL standard riders it looks to me to be another sticking plaster approach just like the promised ‘ more opportunities via individual meetings’ that they said would happen in 2024. The fact was that only three/ four of those meetings actually took place. Whilst we don't know the full make up of teams yet, the fact that they expect riders to double up sets the alarm bells ringing. Some of these NDL riders who appeared in 2024 will not be riding next season for reasons of ‘too good’, retired or simply cant afford it with the new silencers and rev limiters being required  ( about £600 to be found per bike ). So already the SIX NDL sides are hunting for riders , some for two or even three . Yes, theres a couple of 15 year olds to come in , but not loads so just where do the rest of them come from ? The TROPHY sides need to find riders willing to ride and also willing to ride mid week and travel , they might yet struggle to find enough riders willing to double up as the rumoured pay rates will not attract riders who hold down a full time job. Fixture planning needs to be very carefully thought through.  Is there a long term plan attached to this idea ? Will current NDL riders be cueing up to get in a Trophy side ? Let’s hope it thrives…….time will tell.

Rider announced tonight if going by the Social Media hint is correct.  Jeppesen?

Yes, Poole thread should be Poole fans only, bad Lewy!

Averages are of course a nightmare in this situation and in no way have they been considered barring initial year 1 team building. To have any credibility each league should have its own rider averages that are used for team building moving forward. For a start there is a good chance the levels could be quite different so a rider could average 8 in the trophy and 5 in the NDL.  Then there is the other examples. New rider in the trophy signs on a 3, ends season on a 9. The following season he looks for a spot in the League competition too does he sign on as a 3 or a 9? With such short seasons averages won't be calculated more than twice during the trophy season anyway.  The concept of allowing teams extra fixtures and a way into the sport is sound enough but as ever massively hashed together with very little consideration of where the product should be moving forward.

A lot seems to be heavily reliant here on Magic.. If he turns up in April all guns firing then yep brilliant but if he has tinkered with bikes and engines in the winter and the damp cold wet nights in the 1st few months and you get a pre may last year Magic your bang in trouble i would say.. He started on an assessed 8, By the end of May he was on 5.28, by the end of July 6.04 and finished the season on 7.02..