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Of course everyone has their own opinion, but it seems to me you've listed the absolute worse case scenario possible with every rider & declared that's what will happen!

Bit strange to say they need Dayle to perform as a heat leader to be successful. They are bound to have 3 riders with higher averages. Does that mean they expect one of them to fail or they are looking for 4 heat leaders in the team? Mind you in a weaker league, he's not far from heat leader level at his current ability.

Out of curiosity, who do you think will finish out of the play-off spots (besides Birmingham)?

I really like the look of the Oxford team. Got a good number one, then 4 third heat leaders / strong second strings. Plus Lewis Kerr as a fabulous reserve. I think this is where Oxford biggest strength is, I'd rate Kerr above second strings such as Blodorn, Z.Cook, Rew, Palm-Toft & Howarth. To me they are certainly play-off candidates, but so are the other 5 completed teams. Hopefully set for a very exciting season.

Regarding responses (or lack of) from promoters at clubs. I won 2 free tickets to a match via the Speedy scores game on twitter. Got a message from the official British speedway account informing me. On July 24th told them of the match I'd like, on August 6th reminded them I hadn't got an answer, on August 17th reminded them I still hadn't got an answer, on August 18th they replied saying they'd look into it. On August 21st queried again & got the information I was after on August 22nd. They may have been nudged into action by a friend who knew someone on the social media team speaking to them. Obviously I kept on at them as it was a free ticket I had won. But if this was an attempt by me to purchase a ticket etc, i would have long given up & they would have lost a sale. Speedway promotions can't afford to alinatate any fans, while it's struggling in this country, so clubs have got to gets their acts together sharpish, when dealing with emails from supporters etc.

Totally agree I particularly dislike the posts that say someone's team is wrong, but won't say what the correct team is.

The last comments you make sum up Birmingham's team imo. They are all decent enough signings, but as the league is now stronger, they look the weakest team. But not as bad as many suggest imo

Even if Hans is past his best in the Champ, I'd still sign him if he was the best option available (I don't believe he is). Saying "Comets could do better" is a perfectly sensible comment. I agree both Vissing or Rowe would be better signings than Hans.

Never understood that argument, of course he's well past his best, you don't expect to sign a current GP rider / multiple round winner in the Championship now do you? Plus at his best, Hans wouldn't fit as a 3rd heat leader in the Champ. If you had said "hope not, his average is likely to go down' - that would have made sense. I made similar comments about Iversen at Lynn "he's not the rider he once was" - of course he isn't, as he wouldn't be a 3rd heat leader / second string at his best!

If Iversen is at reserve Lynn will win the league i.e I don't expect his average to drop much at all

True, but I can't see much chance of Berge racing in the Championship

Got a better top 2 than Edinburgh, Plymouth & Scunthorpe imo

Vissing is the best option by far for me.

Average too high (6.64) Scunfield have 4.61 left, but it sounds like it'll be another 3.00 rider from the press release announcing Dicken.

But the team at the top of the league most likely have more riders that have developed. So finishing top is important as it means you've developed riders.

Blodorn's Champ ave would be 8.75, wouldn't fit for the last spot. Agree that Rew is likely to be too busy to race in the Champ.

It's certainly popular of clubs to say they weren't rated, so their achievements look even better. I remember reading non-stop comments from Middlo about how well Ben Cook was doing as a 3rd heat leader when so many people doubted he was ready for the position. 1) I don't remember hardly anyone suggesting Cook couldn't handle the 3rd heat leader role. 2) you don't need a strong 3rd heat leader to win the league (there's 7 men in the team). I feel like saying to Middlo, can't you just say Ben is doing well, without acting like it was "against all odds / proving the doubters wrong"

He could be, that's the fun part of pre-season, hoping you're team has got it right.

Were they really predicted for bottom in 2018?

Can't answer that, till we know how many points are available when the last rider is signed but Zaine Kennedy, Dan Gilkes, Jack Thomas, Ty Proctor, Adam Roynon, Stefan Nielsen. I may well have signed Liebman ahead of the bottom 3 just for the publicity, but if the first 3 fitted, wouldn't have passed them up.

Rew might improve as a rider over the season but will he surpass Vissing, who I think I better now. For example Rew has a 6.00 converted Champ ave based on his 4.00 Prem ave, which is because he can't drop below 4.00 - averaged 3.74 in 2023. Whereas Vissing has a rolling ave of 6.24, despite his 2023 form of 7.07 (8.00 home / 6.19 away). I still can't believe Glasgow dropped Vissing & would love Workington to sign him & so he can top score for a Comets away win at Ashfield. I can dream lol!

Looking at the field 4 points for Pearson is the most you could expect from a 4.1 Champ rider. So his first meetings performance is especially good. While it will be tougher stepping up to second string for the first time, the potential is there.

Rew wouldn't be a bad signing at all, still would have Vissing as my first choice though.

As Janowski has been a GP rider in those years, no reason he should get a reduction imo. As for Wethers (as well as Clegg) not a fan of giving anyone a reduction, but just feel not removing Newcastle matches from the rolling averages, would have been sensible & Wethers could gain a team place on a more realistic average.

It's a forum, are you suggesting people who have no inside knowledge shouldn't give their opinions / ideas on the final 2 riders? We'd be on page 2 not page 62, if only allowed to state facts not theories.