szkocjasid

why the rush by the team or rider to decide? The AGM hasn't been started yet.

Not sure that would be any better, let's say for example 9.00 = grade A, 8.00 = grade B, 7.00 = grade C etc. An 8.99 rider is the same grade as an 8.00 rider. But a 7.99 rider is a whole grade below 8.00. Doesn't matter where the cut-off is, some riders would become far more valuable than others! The use of averages certainly has it's flaws, but it's the best system available imo.

I counted guest appearances (so more realistic of a riders form)

I use a minimum 16 rides home & away, Laguta didn't ride enough away to qualify. Would have been (8.59).

I agree it looks weak, but in theory, every team should look weak.

My top 20 of the season (weighted averages) 1. Emil Sayfutdinov - 10.61 2. Jason Doyle - 9.86 3. Robert Lambert - 9.62 4. Tobiasz Musielak - 9.33 5. Jack Holder - 9.28 6. Max Fricke - 8.92 7. Tai Woffinden - 8.84 8. Brady Kurtz - 8.75 9. Dan Bewley - 8.20 10. Sam Masters - 8.00 11. Jaimon Lidsey - 7.92 12. Ryan Douglas - 7.53 13. Charles Wright - 7.39 14. Danny King - 7.30 15. Luke Becker - 7.16 16. Josh Pickering - 7.09 17. Richard Lawson - 6.98 18. Vadim Tarasenko - 6.97 19. Chris Holder - 6.94 20. Nick Morris - 6.89

The Premiership needs Birmingham much more than Birmingham needs the Premiership imo. The other clubs are likely to want to avoid a 5 team league at all costs. So hypothetically Brummies could say we'll ride under the following conditions XYZ?

We've seen that happen this year with the top riders, off the top of my head Tai Woffinden & Charles Wright went hurtling into the fence unable to get their "rocket ships" back under control. Many years ago riders were better at "saving it" but the super fast bikes & slick tracks these days don't help avoid it.

How about? Plymouth Lewis Kerr 8.39 Ben Barker 7.42 Jye Etheridge 5.91 Dan Thompson 4.86 Alfie Bowtell 4.49 Joe Thompson 3.51 Adam Roynon 3.41 Total 37.99

A few years back Prem & Champ teams both had to have 2 x Brits in their sides, but that ruling lasted about ONE season. Shame clubs can't agree to keep rules like that long term.

If it helps Brits get team places, I have no issue with that. If they are good, they'll reach their 5.00 assessed averages, if they are not so good, why sign them over Brits in the first place?

Or Mildenhall?

I disagree, he has the ability to be a 3.00 - 3.50 Champ rider, (4.00 in a lower league) which is better than a 2.00 rider, not everyone makes it into the team.

I am please Sam has got a Champ spot, has certainly improved in the NL for Workington, plus it's good for Comets fans to keep some of last year's team. However I do believe he will be one of the weakest reserves in the league, so wouldn't call him a "good signing". Even with a lower limit, it's a massive step up from the NL to the Champ, but they've all gotta try it at some stage, but if there's no NL, feel that will hinder him. Most first time Champ riders, get to double up between NL & Champ for a season or two. But I'm not sure if he's even had a guest Champ appearance yet?

How much does a manager effect a teams fortunes. Cami I'd considered by many to be a poor manager, regularly makes odd heat 15 choices, doesn't put his top 2 at 1+5 (a nit pick of mine) gives his weakest rider an unnecessary 4th ride - but still won the league. Stuart Dickson has a reputation of being a good manager, tactically astute, but his changes made Leicester worse & didn't help Birmingham much. Pete Adams has won many titles, but in recent years Wolves had made the play-offs but then proceed to lose home & away on the semis!

Glasgow have built a good team every season since 2015, since the Facennas took over, they've always been a top 4 club (I think). Not as successful as Poole, but that doesn't mean they can't build a strong team.

Trying not to pick just the best 7 riders (using their finishing team positions). 1. Emil Sayfutdinov 2. Ben Basso 3. Jaimon Lidsey 4. Charles Wright 5. Jason Doyle 6. Ben Cook 7. Dan Thompson

To be fair, should pick 39 based on start of season averages? As that's what teams had to build to.

I certainly can't imagine any Mildenhall fan being able to celebrate their KOC "win" in this situation. Even if it's what the rules decree, how can they be proud of their "victory"?

If that's the rules, wouldn't Oxford be awarded the league title regardless of Tuesdays result?

That would come in at 36.96, they're not going to pick a team over a point below the limit!

Tbh, I don't think that's relevant. Fans need to decide if they think the price is value for money. If they don't think it is & stop attending, it won't matter if the promotion knows more than the fans i.e how much it costs to put meetings on. I'll use Justin Sedgmen as an example, I've seen interviews, where he explains how expensive Speedway is, with tuning, travel expenses etc as a reason for riders deserving more money. But that's not how a business works - a promotion can only pay out, what comes in (unless they are willing to lose money). If clubs only get 500 attending matches, the riders wages should be based on this income (plus sponsorship), riders can't just demand more money to pay for the very best equipment!

But Leicester can pick 7 riders who have upped their averages, so their current total would no longer be 40.

He certainly gets overlooked compared to the Cook's. Kyle started the season with a higher ave than both Ben & Zach, but they got Prem team places before he did. Ben has since overtaken him, buy Kye still has a higher Champ ave than Zach. Similar thing happened to Pickering, he was overlooked for a Prem spot, long before he got a place. Obviously in the Prem, the Cook's have outscored Kye. Although racing for King's Lynn seems to hinder everyone's scoring?

Is Bastian the stronger rider though? Not much between them imo