szkocjasid

I can't agree with Berwick being that low. Think a lot of predictions placing Redcar high were before Jorgensen got injured. There was a great many people placing Edinburgh, Workington & Plymouth in the bottom 3, so if that's accurate, it's 6 clubs fighting for the remaining 3 play-offs spots. Poole being certainties for me.

Since the Speedway Star didn't do predictions like it used to, I added up these predictions to get an average. Like the speedway star used to do giving 1st = 9 pts & so on till 1 pt for 9th. 1st Poole (7.3) 2nd Redcar (6.8) 3rd Oxford (6.15) 4th Glasgow (6.11) 5th Scunthorpe (6.0) 6th Berwick (4.7) 7th Workington (3.3) 8th Edinburgh (3.1) 9th Plymouth (1.6)

Bored, so I added up the predictions to get an average. Like the speedway star used to do giving 1st = 7 pts & so on till 1 pt for 7th. 1st Ipswich (6.2) 2nd Sheffield (5.3) 3rd Leicester (4.5) 4th Oxford (4.1) 5th Belle Vue (3.6) 6th King's Lynn (3.2) 7th Birmingham (1.0)

Could always replace him with Nicholls if he's struggling

Not really, it's a quirk of the averages that places Nicholls at reserve, normally a potential double figure scorer wouldn't be down there. The fact he's dropped down while riding superbly for the Brummies, should be a team managers dream.

I don't think Workington have any worries over their top 5, sure Batchelor & Cook will have their off days, but so did the leagues top averaged rider Sam Masters at Poole. It's at reserve where I see the Comets struggling. Hopefully they'll be able to win the majority of their home matches, but don't see many bonus points coming their way.

Gotta agree with these replies, Sam & Freddie are both 6+ NL riders, so no reason why Sam shouldn't be able to beat Freddie. If you think Celina wasn't going to challenge Freddie, then I'd question the wisdom of signing a 4.00 foreigner who isn't expected to beat a 2.00 Brit.

The season preview speedway star, has always been my favourite. But I miss they days when promoters (later fans) would give their predictions of the finishing order. Don't know why they stopped that? Too many people not willing to join in? What's the harm of you get it wrong, it's supposed to be a bit of fun.

If I was Birmingham, I'd beg Nicholls to stay, even if it's only for another match or two till the TV schedule starts.

The "rising star" can't be replaced in heat 8, but the number 2 can - by the other reserve, not a tac sub. No tac subs in the KOC anyway.

I'm sure Poole will get the bonus point, but if Oxford win at Plymouth & Poole don't, then Oxford won the group. Might not happen, just pointing out group isn't over yet.

With his knowledge of the track could be Dan T getting one or two extra rides, not Rew. Ipswich are in a good situation with reserve options.

Signing a temp to replacement for an injured rider is what every club should strive to do, means less guests, not sure how that isn't "getting its act together". As for Nicholls guesting for Doyle, this happens every week, nothing unusual about that.

You make a good point. It's a similar situation to riding in the wet, clubs don't want poor crowds, so call meetings off. Therefore riders don't get much experience riding in the rain, but once we get to play-off / KOC finals in October, there's no option but to get on with it. So riders have to race in the rain, but have never experienced these conditions before.

Best chance Birmingham will have of getting a win. Just need to make sure Nicholls gets 6/7 rides.

Nicholls was signed on his 2023 converted Champ average. Now he's ridden in the Prem, they are using his rolling ave, which mostly counts of his 2022 matches for Peterborough (where he struggled). Couldn't be simpler!

The Elite League & Premier league had 6 man teams in 1997, with the Elite continuing this in 1998.

Oxford can still qualify if 1) they get better results against Plymouth or 2) they qualify as best second place.

Maybe Scunthorpe & Oxford fans are lucky, but at some tracks you'll get about 14 heats of "follow the leader" every week. So these supporters will be wondering what you're complaining about lol!

But they're already a point under the limit, so must believe Heeps is better than a 6.00 rider? He's the one signing that confuses me, the top 2 are obvious. Then there's 4 improving young Brits. But Heeps has been on a downward path for a few seasons now. If they had 5.00 remaining I'd understand his signing but not 6.00. They'll likely be above the limit as soon as Boughen & Killeen get new averages, so if they were looking at changes would have to be before then.

I think they probably are, only potential weak link is Jenkins, now he's not a RS, but I think they have a better RS than Sheffield & Leicester who have similar number 6s. So plenty to like about this Ipswich team.

That's a tricky one. Didn't Glasgow put a match back 2 or 3 hours last year to get it run. While that's a lot of waiting around, is better than fans driving home with no racing because of a window they have to complete it in.

After all the negativity he got on here, he deserves his plaudits.

Oxford built a point under the limit, so looking for a big improvement from one (or more) of their bottom 5. Probably will be a different prospect around their home track, but bonus points will be harder to come by than last year.

With Oxford's long tail this sort of result could happen from time to time, but I didn't expect them to lose by this much. Early days but can't see Poole losing many aggregate points / ties.