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I wouldn't feel bad in the slightest, the promoters collectively voted in the play-offs, in the hope of some big crowds & a meaningful end to the season for clubs around mid-table. In doing so they gave up any right of the winners of the "qualifying league" to be considered unlucky if they don't win the league! Or even to be considered the "most deserving" winners. Imo if Poole finish 3rd & win the play-offs they deserve to be Champs. However I would personally prefer no play-offs & the table toppers to be crowned champions.

Ha ha ha, made me giggle

My understanding of the rules would be, Tungate wasn't an injury replacement for Riss, as he had a higher average when he signed. So making a double change to stay under the points limit has to be a "tactical change" surely? Can't see how they are allowed Riss back in this instance. I know it doesn't really matter, but the rules should be clear, easy to understand & followed correctly!

King's Lynn advertised tonight's league cup final as their most important match of the season. I find it hard to consider the competition important when it has been ignored for 4 / 5 months!

A situation that has occured before, but still happens!

It's hard to make suggestions for the 2023 team when you don't know points limit etc. But I do feel it would be too soon for Ace to move into the Champ. However if he tops the NDL aves then he could get chances throughout the year. Certainly worth him being the unofficial number 8 though!

I disagree with the Bickley comment, after his first season at Workington, he's always had a 3+ ave. Plus he was a top NL heat leader before moving up. The form of riders like McGurk, Ablitt & Freeman are better examples of riders moving up too soon!

I agree, but then why agree to 3 legs in the first place? If a one-off on a neutral track would be poorly attended, why agree to that at the AGM? Could easily have said highest runners up & ran 2 semi finals! Can't understand how issues have only arisen since qualifiers were finished?

While nothing was announced pre-season, the 3 team tournament has always been 6 rider teams (could always include a non riding number 7). So this can't be used as a reason for pulling it! So Poole would always have been favourites in a 6-a-side final! Not that there's anything wrong with that, a fit Edinburgh pairing would have been favourites for the pairs & when the 4TT was run, teams with strong top 4s would be likely to do well! I don't ever remember a team pulling out of the fours or pairs (unless through injuries)! Assuming Glasgow are allowed guests - no reason to pull out!

From memory I'm sure all 3 clubs were praising the decision to have a 3 legged final! So I find it odd that this change would have caused an issue. Not sure why the clubs would agree to this if it would cause fixture issues! I do feel rules should bit be changed mid-season however & should have stuck with a one-off final!

I totally agree of it was announced that they had another season, no one would be complaining. Just think it would be wrong not to admit if beforehand that's all!

If Edinburgh have agreed to be back at Armadale in 2023, it wouldn't be fair to call the Scottish Open the "farewell to Armadale". Wouldn't be right to try & get a big crowd under false pretences. As for Glasgow I think the days of lots of away fans turning up are long gone & home crowds are what keeps clubs going. But especially with no Edinburgh, Berwick or Workington, it would be the perfect time to step up! No point Glasgow saying they'll only move up once they've won the Championship. May as well just admit they'll never move up lol!

I don't really believe rumors until I see an official announcement. But find it very hard to believe a club could qualify for a final & then pull out of the competition! I'm sure I read that Leicester wanted to host their leg on the August bank holiday weekend, but Glasgow didn't agree to the date (riders missing). That suggests they wanted to win the competition. If they are pulling out, why would they have been bothered about putting out a weak side two months ago? Best punishment I can come up with (if it's true) if any club pull out of Jubilee league, then they are banned from the following season's play-offs! If they don't qualify - ban rolls over till they next would qualify! That would ensure all 3 clubs race in the final!

As Worrall could still be at Leicester next year in the Prem, I see nothing wrong with Plymouth announcing his signing for the Champ

At least two of the clubs have had blank dates since the finalists were known, so there's no good excuse for leaving it till the end of October

1) is there anything wrong with that? 2) I'd rather be champions, than considered the best team (but not champions)

Look at the 4 new riders to the Championship in 2022. Fredriksen, Hook, Pearson & Congreve. None of them reached the minimum 4.00 ave for foreigners. Was signing these riders really better than keeping the RS system going? You could argue only Knudsen (on a 5.00) for Berwick was worth signing!

I have to say there is far too much "gardening" at the start for me these days. I was at Berwick for a NDL match on Saturday & even a junior in his first NDL match has already learnt / been taught to get off his bike & dig for ages. Heck even when Mildenhall had to go to the tapes for an easy 5-0 in heat 13, the both dug a little at the start, not for a long time but seemed unnecessary as they didn't have any opponents! I also feel video companies do the sport no favours by showing all the gardening in the one-off heats they show on social media. You'd think they'd want to show the best (the racing) of speedway and not the worst (time wasting).

We say that every year though. In the last two season the gap between fixtures for some teams seems even worse!

I suppose in Berwick's defence it wasn't like they had an obvious non-scoring reserve to replace. Weakest rider throughout the year as been on a 4.00 ave (ish). Probably also don't want to give Harrison enough matches to get an average!

Still wouldn't solve the problem of the league being decided by a team losing their weakest rider & strengthening up with the "next Dan Bewley" - not that you can solve that problem, can't tell a team not to pick a good guest! Actually you can solve the problem - don't have play-offs!

Why announce a 5 year plan then? They keep doing it also!

That's why I said 2 or 4 points, while Pijper may or may not have beaten Harrison, I'm sure he would have beaten Warren! I was very impressed with Harrison, just needs some coaching from Chris Harris about riding the deep outside & he'll be unstoppable! He's a must signing for the Bullets on a 3.00 ave for next season!

1) to make it cheaper so the likes of Eastbourne or Workington would join? 2) to spread the top riders around so the likes of Birmingham & Newcastle being far weaker doesn't happen again? 3) to help the best NL riders step up? 4) to have a bigger gap between Prem & Champ and a smaller gap between Champ & NL? 5) to encourage clubs like Leicester, Poole & Glasgow to step up? Tbh a lower points limit isn't needed so much for next season if the Champ are missing 2 more teams, meaning the top riders could get spread round more evenly!

As soon as Brits clinched 3rd in heat 18, I was hoping Edwards would get a shot in heat 19 at least!