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Now I've seen the rules, Kent could go with Ablitt & Morley. Any rider who rode in 24 is eligible for 25. Morley would be the only "4-6" rider.

Just fits, would be their best team for a few years imo Michael P Toft 7.80 Nico Covatti 7.82 Ben Barker 5.87 Joe Thompson 5.63 Alfie Bowtell 5.07 Lasse Fredriksen 4.67 Ben Trigger 3.00 Total 39.86

I think it would have to be a ruling on matches ridden, age shouldn't really come into it. Personally I don't mind Morley in the development league, he's giving the better riders someone to aim to beat. i.e if you can beat Morley you're ready for the Champ. If the top NDL riders ended up being Scott, McGurk, Hodder, Garrad, Perry & James, all riders who couldn't reach the minimum 2.00 Champ ave, how would NDL riders know when to step up?

The rule was, if a rider had ever averaged above 4, they couldn't race in NDL. So even 3 points riders like William Lawson could no longer ride in it. Rules must have changed to allow Morley & Harrison to race in the development league, just wish they'd announce the rule changes.

He rarely has a full season to try & "kick on" this year was probably one where he rode most of the season, very good at reserve, averaging above 5, but poor in the top 5, so his average dropped pretty much back to where it started. I'd pick him if I had 3.7 available, but not over 4 like Workington have left.

I'll disagree on that one, lots of 2 point riders get a second season & Jack is better than all of them. Maybe if he did worse last year could fit into some teams, explain that to non-speedway fans

I get your point, but any points Oxford or Workington gain from their number 7, Poole will gain from their 3,4&5.

I don't think Knudsen as as bad as some are making out, but I would've preferred Ablitt, if I was an Oxford fan.

I agree, just pointing out that next year only having one heat leader isn't going to be as bad as it would've been 5/10 years ago.

That would always be my preference

Not sure why the need for concern? Let's say Berwick only have Cook as a "genuine heat leader", Edinburgh only have Sedgmen, Oxford only have Masters & Plymouth haven't named any. Looks like we'll have more teams built with strength in depth in mind?

That's not how the averages work, Newman averaged 4.96 from 11 matches, his rolling average consisted of these along with 9 matches from 2023. If he rode one more match, he'd still carry 8 matches from 2023 in his rolling average. I'm not sure who Plymouth have planned for 2025, but I'd welcome Newman back for another go.

It's hard to judge Glasgow's chances, rumoured top 5 looks great, but 2 x 2.00 reserves must be a concern. Ps Poole only had one, Hagon started above 2.00, something Glasgow are missing.

Tbf at that stage of the season there was nothing riding on the fixtures till the play-offs started, that could also have affected the crowds.

Well the team isn't too dissimilar from my suggestion of a strength in depth team, Knudsen rather than Ablitt & McDiarmid rather than Hook.

Imagine buying a new silencer, then putting it into your garage for 4 years until you're allowed to use it lol!

Would it not be the trophy they'd enter though? Apparently the NDL sides are happy with the amount of meetings they get so any new teams had to enter the Trophy. No difference, except location of opponents obviously.

The way I read the post, sounded like he chose to leave rather than Edinburgh couldn't fit him in.

I'll completely disagree that the Ipswich team needed strengthening, they were he best team by far (till injuries came in). Obviously they want to put out the best team they can to improve their chances of winning the league, so naturally looked to strengthen up. While it seems a surprise a successful team could drop their averages, that could be expected more due to the high points limit. Teams should average out at 42, teams are really running at 43 (40+RS) so teams should end up with lower averages (on the whole).

Don't understand the decision making there, how much is having an asset like Baek worth if he can't reach a 4.00 average. Even if a club finds a future superstar like Ben Basso (don't know of he belongs to Poole or Glasgow) if he leaves to concentrate on Poland, having him as an asset does nothing for a club. Would rather clubs use Brits first than sign up new "assets"

How much of a difference does it make though? If it's gonna be all the same riders in league & trophy, will travelling expenses not be the same? May mean less visiting fans, but I don't think they'd expect many at Development league level. I guess they could always hold junior challenge matches against Workington, Edinburgh & Redcar to judge crowd levels?

1) The conversation rate is as above Prem x 1.5 2) The most recent average is used, so the 2024 Prem average is converted. As soon as a rider rides one match they revert to their Championship rolling ave. Last year rolling averages were from 2022-2024, if the 3 year rule continues, then next year it'll be 2023-2025 matches that count. If this is the case, the 2022 Champ matches will be ignored & the rider would get a new average after 8 matches.

It'll be very hard to build a stronger team than last season, most teams have to weaken due to the points limit, even Plymouth finishes above 40. Dan T will be impossible to replace imo, but if he wanted to go, what can Plymouth do? Covatti & Barker aren't a good 1&5, but that's what they ran with last year. Possibly should've given Dan a run at 5 last year, see if Barker can find form as a "second string"? If that was the team for next year, so the same with Covatti (mind you, I expect him to remain with Edinburgh)?

Have to disagree with your opinion of Lawson, he has a higher average than the 3rd heat leaders at both Ipswich & Belle Vue, yet only a "solid engine room rider"? He may go downhill, but also may not. Many riders can keep performing as they get older these days. As for Bomber & NKI I agree they're not "reliable double points scorers" but that's the beauty of the Lynn team, they have 6 riders who could score double figures, their riders don't need to do it in every match.

All the while reducing the averages of foreign riders to help them get team places!