szkocjasid

Agree they look good at home, Batchelor (8.96), Zischke (9.38) & Vuolas (8.74) is a tremendous heat leader trio at home. Will certainly be much stronger at reserve. Not sure if say the team is stronger than this years with Cook & Vissing, replaced by Bowes & Etheridge in the top 5, I don't think the increased reserve strength cancels that out. But the league is weaker than last year, with play-off rivals Poole Oxford & Scunthorpe all weakening, so that's not a dig at the Workington team.

That makes sense, except I'd expect Poole to have had Foord & a "temporary 2 points rider" so doubt his position would've been in jeopardy? Don't want to go in about Poole on an Edinburgh thread, but if my logic is correct, Starke is a possibility for the Monarchs.

If Nathan Ablitt isn't in the team, how about Jake Knight (former Eastbourne rider) joining Morley at the top of the team?

Did well in the Nora league, not so great in NDL racing.

AGM has happened, rules have been agreed, riders signed & some teams complete. Surely if teams weren't happy with the situation it would've been sorted before announcing the new competitions? Ps why is the King's Lynn match a "meaningless development fixture".

I think whoever's at 5 won't find it easy there. I'd put the second highest rider there, could well swap throughout the season, same as the number 6 position.

Even if you didn't usually buy a programme to save a few quid, a free programme won't be turned down. Good deal imo

That would leave 4.38 for the final rider. Josh Warren on 4.93 wouldn't fit. Nathan Ablitt 8.33 Ben Morley 8.32 Jack Kingston 6.45 An Other Rhys Naylor 4.13 Connor King 3.39 Josh Couzins 3.00 Total 33.62

That would leave 4.77 available for the final rider Nathan Ablitt 8.33 Ben Morley 8.32 Jack Kingston 6.45 An Other Rhys Naylor 4.13 Sam Woods 3.00 Nathan Hargrave 3.00 Total 33.23

There's could be a lot of comments like that this year lol!

I'm not so sure Starke will be at Poole, as that means they could've had kept Foord. But they said he was let go as part of the "numbers game". I can't believe no Champ club wouldn't realise Starke will score points at reserve, so expecting to end up at Edinburgh, Berwick or Plymouth?

Workington return to the third tier for 2025. This is just a complete guess Jack Smith 8.73 Vinnie Foord 6.29 Ace Pijper 6.44 Sam McGurk 5.56 Stene Pijper 4.82 Mark Parker 3.00 Laylen Richardson 3.00 Total 37.84

Cheers, if someone say's Hook should be doing better - fair point, or there's better riders available - could be, but he's not improved or Leibmann's better - strongly disagree.

I would've recommended this to complete the side, but if Ablitt isn't willing to travel to Berwick, can't see him going to Armadale. Connor Bailey would fit, if he wanted to ride again. Sam Hagon or another new 5 point foreigner would fit. Justin Sedgmen 7.92 Paco Castagna 7.11 Kye Thomson 6.53 Victor Palovaara 5.00 Jonatan Grahn 5.00 Nathan Ablitt 4.91 Paul Starke 3.36 Total 39.83

Goodness me, how did I do that lol!

Pearson was very good at Ashfield 7.64 (8.55) but not so much away 3.05 (3.68), I wouldn't consider him a good signing on a 5.51 average, unless it was returning to Glasgow. I certainly wouldn't have chosen him ahead of Fredriksen (still not sure if he wanted to go or didn't have a team spot) who's on a lower average.

I don't think he's "that good" I think he's a 4.2 point rider, which is basically what the club had available for the last spot. If he had improved further, he wouldn't fit in the team. 2022 at Edinburgh 2.78 2023 at Edinburgh & Berwick 3.74 2024 at Plymouth 4.19 How has he not improved? Celina averaged 2.45 this season, why would you prefer her in the team?

I can understand turning down Berwick for another club closer to home (Plymouth) but not turning down Berwick just to compete in the NL/NT. He might get a team mid season, but there's no guarantee.

The best way to think of it, is riders have ONE average, their starting average. Ignore last year's finishing average if it's any different.

Absolutely brilliant top 3, expect King to really up his average if he starts at 3, Riss too. Very good number 4 in Edwards as well, fell he improves every year. Not too convinced by the bottom 3, Mulford seems a slow improver, now he's no longer at reserve, could see his average drop. Delighted for Pijper & Spencer to get Championship places, but they will be amongst the weakest reserves in the league. However, they won't need to score many for Redcar to win matches.

I agree they could have the best 1-5 in the league, but don't see Hodder being one of the better reserves. Maybe he'll improve, but as things stand Glasgow look to have the weakest reserves in the league. Could still do very well with that top 5 though.

Workington certainly have much stronger reserves than last season. I think Hook may have reached his limit, can see a small improvement, but not much. But it's still a great reserve pairing, stronger than Glasgow & Redcar by far. Not sure the team will do as well as last year's, guess a lot depends on wether Vuolas & Zischke improve away, if that happens, look a play-off side. Addition: I think Glasgow, Redcar & Poole look almost certainties for the play-offs, could see everyone else fighting for 4th spot.

Please tell me you're trolling, no-one can be that clueless.

Kerr could keep his average & Rowe end up as second heat leader. I rate him highly, he's only on a 6.1 average as he's mainly carrying his scores from 2023.

Given the league is weaker again, I think this looks a pretty decent team. Has the benefit of the reserves having actual averages above 3, so can expect points all through the team. Tom Spencer 7.22 Ace Pijper 6.44 Danny Phillips 6.33 Jamie Halder 5.08 Stene Pijper 4.82 Ben Rathbone 3.80 Kai Ward 3.58 Total 37.27