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Yeah I've read rumors of Worrall to Glasgow, but until it's announced, I count him as available.

I'd say it's looks an ok / mid-table team. So in a weaker league that should mean they are play-off contenders.

Think this would be an awesome team Scunthorpe Steve Worrall 7.84 Michael P Toft 7.01 Simon Lambert 5.87 Anders Rowe 5.80 Drew Kemp 5.19 Zaine Kennedy 4.27 Luke Harrison 2.00 Total 37.98

Ablitt went from a sub-2.00 average to 3.00 riding in the more difficult number 6 position, think he & the club can be very pleased with his progress imo. Gilkes would be a very good signing.

I'll go for: Luke Killeen 7.73 Jody Scott 5.31 Alex Spooner 5.07 Jacob Clouting 5.05 Jason Garrad 4.77 Arran Butcher 4.69 Senna Summers 3.00 Total 35.62

Predictions & comments for 2024 welcome. I have no idea of the team, but there will be plenty changes with Jenkins & Atkins not in the NL in 2024. Almost said Boughen too, before I remembered he was at Leicester last year lol!

If I was being really pedantic, I'd reply with - why even have a league? Why does the top team win, why not give 3 points to all riders who complete a race? I'm sure everyone would say "that's insane" - so clearly the result does matter - after all when riders go to the tapes the aim is to win the heat - you don't see top riders miss the gate on purpose to practice their overtaking do you? Also if the strength of teams doesn't matter why even have a points limit? I would change a couple of things to make it more of a "development" league - like the Prem, weakest rider has to go at 7 (can't be replaced in heat 8) look at Mildenhall last year, William Richardson getting the harder rides, while his stronger reserve partner meets a reserve in every race. There's no way that was don't for his development - weakest riders at 7 meeting each other more & stronger riders at 6 racing opposition second strings must be better for everyone's development - so clearly Mildenhall did this to win. If the number 6 couldn't replace the number 7 baring injuries (call him a supplementary reserve) all riders would likely get 4 rides a match - it just goes a bit further than simply stopping tac subs, which they do to stop riders missing rides (unless you have a strong reserve).

Some people say the weakest team gets first pick of the RS, if true Birmingham would have taken Flint before Leicester got the chance - personally I don't know why that rule would even need to exist! EDIT the latest SGB post explains the RS ruling & for the first time I've seen it announced that the lowest ranked team gets pick of RS.

Really like the look of the Leicester top 5 (obviously) just depends if the reserves can back then up. Big season for Kemp jumping out of the RS position, but he's had experience of racing at number 6 with Wolves, so really should add to his 3.03 average, so they've been clever there. Really just leaves Joe T as the weak link, good luck to him, but he looks to be one of the weakest two RS in the league.

Bit of a lopsided fixture list, 4 matches in April, but only 1 in June & 2 in July. At least there's 5 NL fixtures to fit in to plug the gaps.

The Belle Vue team doesn't look bad at all, but so far all 6 completed sides look decent, so hopefully it'll be a very close league. On paper I'd say Belle Vue don't look a "top 4" team, but if they can get lots of bonus points - can make it.

He's not as good as Mountain or Bailey so no place for him in the team.

Agreed, two good signings.

How about? Scunfield Nathan Ablitt 8.49 Luke Harrison 6.86 Ace Pijper 5.81 Alex Spooner 5.07 Luke Crang 3.61 Senna Summers 3.00 Stene Pijper 3.00 Total 35.84

So how about? Edinburgh Tom Woolley 6.64 Greg Blair 6.33 Matt Marson 5.86 Alex Spooner 5.07 Dayle Wood 4.50 Mickie Simpson 4.23 Kyren Lyden 3.00 Total 35.63

I'll start this for predictions & comments for the coming season. Despite Max James signing fir the senior side, I expect he'll stay with Leicester in the NL?

Looks a very weak team, but that's always the case when the first team is (almost) declared with a lower points limit. Once other sides are completed, they may not look so bad.

My top 20 of the season (weighted averages) 1. Jordan Jenkins - 10.80 2. Dan Thompson - 10.54 3. Connor Bailey - 10.12 4. Henry Atkins - 10.03 5. Alfie Bowtell - 9.64 6. Joe Thompson - 9.41 7. Max Clegg - 9.38 8. James Pearson - 9.24 9. Jack Smith - 9.09 10. Adam Roynon - 8.67 11. Nathan Ablitt - 8.55 12. Sam Hagon - 8.39 13. Lee Complin - 8.36 14. Jacob Hook - 8.35 14. Luke Killeen - 8.35 16. Ben Morley - 8.07 17. Ryan Kinsley - 7.88 18. Ashton Boughen - 7.78 19. Max Perry - 7.59 20. Luke Harrison - 6.93

Now Leicester are complete, probably won't change. 1. Oxford 2. Ipswich 3. Leicester 4. Sheffield 5. King's Lynn 6. Belle Vue 7. Birmingham

I get the point you make about Sedgmen, on a 7.7 average of course you wouldn't expect him to beat the likes of Masters & Nicholls in heats 13+15, but he rode at number 5 all last year to achieve that average. With several heat leaders missing this year, logically his average should go up!

Think you are rating the Sheffield reserves a bit too highly. For example 4 teams have rising stars stronger than Sheffield's number 6. Edwards is promising but as a number 6, gives them a weak reserve pairing imo.

Guess I can update my predictions (based on announced riders) 1. Oxford 2. Ipswich 3. Sheffield 4. King's Lynn 5. Belle Vue 6. Leicester 7. Birmingham

Was gonna say the same thing, if you think Janowski could drop to reserve or Kerr move up to number one, you need your head checked lol!

To me he did as well as you'd expect of a 16 year old in his first Champ season. After half a season of NL racing it was big jump up to be a reserve for Redcar. I was a little surprised his NL average wasn't higher (it's not bad) after his guest appearances at the end of last season, but it was still a point above Ace Pijper & look how well he did for Glasgow. I wouldn't call him a "trump card" like a David Howe, Tai Woffinden or Jordan Palin who were expected to take the second tier by storm in their first season - but these sort of riders don't come along every season. He's still a promising rider & a good signing on a 2.00 ave.

How about? Scunthorpe Kyle Howarth 7.76 Michael P Toft 7.01 Simon Lambert 5.87 Anders Rowe 5.80 Connor Mountain 5.28 Zaine Kennedy 4.27 Luke Harrison 2.00 Total 37.99