szkocjasid

You want both, build top heavy & hope your reserves improve, or build strength in depth & hope one of your top 3 become a superstar!

Going by averages should it not be? MPT vs Lawson (Lawson) Allen vs Cook (tougher to call, Allen now but Ben by end of the season) Lambert vs Z.Cook (Cook) Thomas vs Mountain (pretty equal)

While I know this is a joke, it actually would make little difference, Glasgow we're always going to finish in the top 6 anyway.

While I agree Morris won't keep his average, after the problems they had with heat leaders last year, I can see why they've gone for one of the top 5 riders in the league to lead their team!

Good signings for the Academy. Must admit I'm surprised due to the travelling, but we'll done to the riders to be willing to travel to Scotland fir home matches.

I'm sure it would depend on the rider, I'm sure if Zmarzlik said to Lublin he wouldn't sign a contract saying he'd have to pay a fine if he got injured & missed matches, they'd change it sharpish!

I wouldn't sign anyone (not even Zmarzlik) on that guarantee. Maybe offer them £400 a point & tell him if he scores a maximum each week - he'll get his £6,000!

King's Lynn's hopes of a top 4 spot increased as soon as it was decided their final match wouldn't count for the averages, leaving Jakobsen on his 5.04 starting ave!

Roynon really shouldn't have a 6.00 ave for 2023. That was his 2022 Champ ave doubled, as he didn't get a NL match, shouldn't his average now be his 2023 Champ ave doubled?

Got a KOC tie with Leicester & possibly a final to fit in too.

Not necessarily, if the stand alone clubs all lost their first match (assuming they didn't race each other) they wouldn't get any extra matches!

Totally to do with the standalone clubs wanting more fixtures. Ideally there should be a National Trophy for standalone teams, but with Workington being so far away from Mildenhall & Kent, doesn't suit the league geographically.

Aggregate wins won't be enough to finish in the top 2 though. Gonna take some away wins surely?

Personally think Workington look the strongest team by far. Leicester 2nd best marginally ahead of Oxford. Then Kent, Mildenhall, Berwick, Belle Vue & Edinburgh. This is based on signed riders as Belle Vue have 2 & Edinburgh 0, can't predict them any higher!

You make a fair point, although Basso got a higher average than Brennan riding with Ostergaard who is stronger than Vissing.

There's not actually that many clubs with 2.00 riders. 2 clubs have 2 x 2.00 riders, 3 clubs have one 2.00 rider, while 4 clubs have no 2.00 riders.

It's possible they meant putting Basso at 3 will increase his average (avoiding heat 13) & his average will move above Harris'

Has their riding order berm announced? I certainly agree with Noelinho that I'd have the highest averaged rider (Basso) at 5. Cast1rn I'm not sure how many matches are included in rolling aves this year, but I cam see the sense in moving riders you're planning to keep into harder positions, especially as a top 6 spot is all that's required, so even if it's the wrong thing for the team, won't hurt them!

Or they were beaten by the better team? Not sure I'd call it a lottery, I get your point about the results of other teams, but that's sport basically.

I must have been remembering my Poole predictions on a 40 limit, not 42

That can't have been the plan as they were 2 points above the 42 limit & Thomas has a similar average to Kemp?

Certainly disagree with you greatly about Thomas. Started 2021 as a 3 point something reserve & ended up about 5. Then in 2022 kept his average after moving into the top 5 (in an injury hit season). Clearly on his way up imo & a good signing for Poole. As for Roynon looking at his average for Scunny in the Speedway Star (includes bonus points) 4.35, with a 4.89 away ave!

The points limit isn't "so high" it's just what the average team should have ended on, do keeps at last year's standards. Lowering the points limit has led to NL heat leaders stepping up & struggling in the Champ Ablitt & McGurk for example.

Hagon is certainly a good signing. I know Smith wants a Champ team too, but can't see that happening.

I think this is the first time ever they've not dropped the limit. By that I mean made the league weaker (less than 42 points).