szkocjasid

Really, that looks like a play-off team to me, can't imagine it would fit under the limit, although I don't know riders assessed averages.

I didn't pick up on that till months after it happened, can't believe the BSPL, referee or opposition team didn't notice at the time.

That rule lasted ONE year, could have 7 foreigners in your team if clubs wanted to.

So did Celina Liebmann, but she was allowed to be signed on a 4. Maybe Poole could try & use that "loophole"

If it was any other team I'd agree with you, but last year Oxford kept weakening the team, maybe they've just started earlier this year?

I'm sure I read that Luke's dad suggested it was too early for a RS spot in 2025, so no chance he'd consider a top 6 spot imo

As far as I'm aware foreigners race on a minimum 4.00 average. Danyon Hume fits, didn't he used to ride for Sheffield?

But Oxford done need a low averaged Premiership rider? Although with Peter Schroeck you never know what he's planning lol!

Guess we won't agree on that prediction, think they'll be too good at home for that. Agree they don't have a strong second heat leader, not all clubs will though. Anyway be boring if everyone agreed all the time, the joy of pre-season predictions, anyone could be right.

I'd call Allen a heat leader based on his overall average, but agree he's not strong away from home.

I can't see it being that team as they could've kept Foord rather than Starke with the points remaining. Any team with Starke surely has to come to at least 39.5 otherwise there would be no reason to drop Foord?

That wouldn't make sense to me, I'd have Foord rather than a new 4 point rider.

Feel some people are being a bit too negative regarding the Scunthorpe team. Of course it's weaker than this years team they finished on 43.83, so have to drop lots of points to fit under 40, only Poole finished with a higher figure. Suggestions of only one heat leader are a bit daft, Allen is clearly a 2nd/3rd heat leader. In a weaker league, I also see Lambert & Mountain as an acceptable middle order pairing. As long as Declan can get close to his starting average, they'll always have two food reserves, looks as if some other clubs will have 2 x 2.00 riders at reserve (or at least one) so a definite advantage there. I don't imagine they'll get many (if any) away wins, so big home wins & bonus points will be their target. Hard to judge where they'll finish till more teams are completed though.

Exactly @lewy the "numbers game" is just an excuse for promoter's to use to avoid getting flack from the fans when dropping a popular rider, well in this instance especially. Once Ben & Tom left the remaining riders could have returned if Poole wanted them to. Poole have every right to build the team however they like obviously. But the points limit didn't stop Foord returning, Poole did.

I wouldn't have gone for that team, just naming riders rumoured to be in Poole's side. I'd have gone with Foord with Thomsen, not Starke & whoever.

Can't see Cairns riding in the ExtraLiga, just the U24 league. He'll certainly get plenty of racing, almost wonder if he'd be better not signing for a Champ team, just ride as a guest he'd get plenty of match I'm sure & be available on a 2.00 average for 2026. Assuming he signs for a play-off team, I'm positive that'll turn them into Champions.

For a start his Championship average is above many riders who have higher Premiership averages, such as: Sedgmen, Kerr, King, Worrall, Z Cook, Howarth, Wright & Zischke. So if he can beat them in the Champ, he should be able to beat them in the Prem. Then he showed what he can do on his best day with 16 points at Sheffield. His 2024 average for Oxford & Leicester was 5.40 (from 14 meetings). The reason he has a lower starting average must therefore be due to having low scores in final 6 meetings in 2023, which is not so relevant when judging his form ahead of 2025. I also said "but with Cook, you can never be sure what he'll do" but there's plenty of reasons for Leicester fans to be positive imo

40.76, above the points limit. 2 x 2.00 riders at the bottom & it fits.

Sam Masters lol!

With Kerr, Rowe & Starke all heavily rumoured, it was a case of finding the best rider left under 2.96. Maybe one (or more) of those three, aren't in the team & it'll look very different?

I assume you mean Hagon? To fit him in means, Poole wouldn't be able to get Kerr & Rowe.

So how about this now? Richard Lawson 9.17 Lewis Kerr 7.76 Zach Cook 6.23 Anders Rowe 6.11 Tobias Thomsen 4.41 Paul Starke 3.36 Ace Pijper 2.93 Total 39.97

I'm surprised Thomsen is back, only because Foord isn't, looking at the rumoured signings I assumed it was a choice of Thomsen & Foord or 5 pointer & Starke. I wasn't expecting a Thomsen & Starke decision (I know it may not be).

Just pointing out this post is for confirmed signings, Boughen has been confirmed by Oxford, not Glasgow.

Average is too high. My sums say Berwick have 7.33 left for their final two riders.