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Thought he'd be nailed on.

Depends on the reasoning for the RS, to decide it "hasn't worked". The system has given many young / inexperienced Brits opportunities in the top flight, this alone should save money on flights if foreign riders were used at reserve instead. Also just because a rider hasn't moved out of the RS system, doesn't mean he hasn't improved as a rider. Look at the Championship averages of Jenkins & Edwards, they keep improving - has racing in the Prem helped cause that? Look at Kemp & Mountain, riders who got dropped not because of poor form but to try & improve the team, this would happen far more without the RS scheme. Maybe that's the only negative I can come up with, as riders like Kemp & Mountain are considered "number 7 quality" so miss out on Premiership team spots. Even when Dan T got dropped, without the RS scheme, he may not have got picked up by Ipswich, would he have improved so quickly without gaining another spot? I know some people will say "if you're good enough you'll get a chance anyway" but look at Dan T in the Champ in 2023. No club wanted him at the start of the season, Birmingham signed then dropped him, till he finally got a spot with Plymouth. This is the sort of thing that could easily happen more often in the Prem without the RS scheme. Every year there will be riders at the bottom of a teams average (below 4) no matter what system is used, I just think it's better to have Brits in these positions. I had a quick look at the last season before "rising stars" 2019 to see who ended up at number 7. One promising Aussie (Ryan Douglas), two young Brits (Perks & Sarjeant), three riders who didn't average over the minimum 4.00 (Porsing, Wells, Ostergaard) and one who never returned to ride over here (Berge) so if we got rid of the RS system and ended up back as it was then, is that any better? Ps sorry for the rambling, I find it hard to condense my thoughts down lol!

To be fair to them, they have come through when the top league improved it's levels several fold .. Eg. Chris Harris is a reserve which shows how "deep" into the team "good riders" now go.. Chris will inevitably come out of reserve quickly but another "good rider" will replace him.. The 2nd and 3rd tiers are the places for these lads to develop.. Far away from Messrs. Bewley, Emil, Doyle, Kurtz, Fricke, "The Holders", Woffy, Janowski, Musielak etc..

Like Barker, he’d probably have to get rid of a stone before the racing starts at Easter….🤪

Wooooosh.

Happy New Year to everyone.

For a Leicester point of view, based on his Championship average I'd have looked towards Joe T again. Maybe he'll get another chance of Hagon doesn't improve?

As a reading / Eastbourne regular of yesteryear I sort of understand what your saying but that Plymouth track essentially is a race to bend 1 bar the odd exception or an error . Klindt is renowned for sharp starting and as you say he's prob cheaper . As for the glads last signing a rider who has def improved a bit in recent yrs is jack smith , if he fits he's a better bet than trigger etc

brennan?

I have to admit, looking at the riders who are not RS's at the moment. There is not many riders from the lower league who would be any better than Sam Hagon. Young Luke Harrison and Nathan Abelitt are the only two who imo would be better, but the RS system has not worked. Only Dan Thompson has got out of the reserve berth and progressed. Flint is coming up for his 5th season as a RS. Edwards 4th season, Jenkins the same!!

As this league is still running the RS system he should definitely be included in that, I'm not sure Leicester is the right place for him though, based on previous performances and his starting ability. Having said that I'm looking forward to him upping his game and making me eat my words in 2025!

Congratulations to Leicester on the new stadium sponsorship deal 👍

For several weeks now, Oxford have made no public comment whatsoever on this subject.

He needs to concentrate on his speedway and stop wasting his time throwing money changers out of the temple and turning water into wine. PS maybe he should consider the catering franchise at Scunny. Feeding of the bedraggled 500 should present no challenge.

That’s a no to Jesus then

Having watched him in the Phil Crump classic. He shouldn't be anywhere near the top league. He only managed 1 point and that was against a local guy who didn't scored a point!. The name has got him this far, but It won't last unless he starts scoring points. It was a very strange decision of Dickinson to keep him after last season. One good meeting at Belle Vue other than that, he only scored points when riders fell or broke down!!

Thank you. To you and yours also.

I think Jack Smith or Ben Trigger are the better options.

Couldn't agree more Saddlebow some excellent promoting by Plymouth. Each signing announced with enthusiasm and positivity and good explanation from Promoters about what their aims are with the build up of the team. Good luck to them, they are flying the flag for the South West and deserve support. As the saying goes "use it or lose it" and hopefully they will attract good Crowds and keep going.

Especially as we get older and it's cold outside