szkocjasid

I guess I don't see the need for an average reduction whatsoever, if he can't reach his old 6.59 average in a far weaker league, why bring him back? Apart from attempting to win the trophy that is. If he's a potential future Championship rider, good for Birmingham & Oxford giving him a team berth, just don't understand the reason for giving him a new average.

I do have to wonder why the need to change his average? Normally you want riders average to be realistic to be fair to all teams, but as it's a development league, does it matter? Let's say Birmingham feels his average was too high & makes it harder for them to win, so what? Obviously you should try & win the league / trophy but should clubs have riders averages reassessed on order to do this?

I think Max is the best 2.00 rider signed so far (who will start the season). There is certainly potential to have a decent season for this team.

If they did that the fans would be having the exact same conversation about Batchelor. Saying "they could've still had a stronger reserve pairing with Batchelor. They could have had the exact same team with Batchelor" Once they decided to drop a top man to have strong reserves, it was Cook or Batchelor. I'm sure fans will have their own preferences about who should have been kept. I can understand arguments either way, but I don't think there's a big enough difference between the riders to categorically state they've got it right or wrong.

Yeah, I have to agree that was a painful read.

I actually think they've got this one almost spot on. Most of the NDL/NDT clubs only want 5 home fixtures, but most of the development riders want more than 10 meetings. So doubling up in a separate league & trophy is the only way to allow both to happen. The only thing I would have done differently would be to allow stand alone clubs (Kent) to race in both.

Blame the rule makers rather than Plymouth or Joe imo. I'm not sure why they made a "if you rode this year, you can ride next year rule"?

There's a few ways to look at it, now I'd agree Joe T should be too good for the NDT, but as he has so few Championship fixtures, can understand wanting to get extra rides. Also Plymouth are probably keen for him to ride, they could end up losing 60-30 every home match if they replaced him with a NDL second string. If that happens, crowds drop & they lose lots of money, they likely won't enter the competition next year, then the other 6 riders in the team won't get the same opportunities next season. Is it such a big deal that Joe rides for Plymouth, when they are giving SIX other "genuine" NDL riders matches? Compare that to the likes of Ipswich, Berwick, Glasgow & Poole who haven't entered a development league. I'd also disagree that the development leagues should be for "NDL second strings, reserves and newbies" the weaker you make the development leagues the harder it is for them to make the step up to the Championship.

I thought Andrew Bain explained the Cook situation well, commenting that they wanted a stronger reserve pairing, certainly after last year can't disagree with that policy. Doesn't change the Cook vs Batchelor debate, come October we can judge if they got it right.

Interestingly Kai Ward is the lowest averaged rider in the Middlesbrough side, but 4th highest for Plymouth.

I would expect one wildcard to race in both meetings. That's what happened with the double headers in the 2020 season. Has the British final date been announced? I'd assume they'd want it before the Belle Vue GP to decide the wildcard?

Nearly every promoter says it's the "numbers game" to give them an excuse when dropping a rider / deflect from any criticism the move has made. Poole did the same when dropping Foord, he would've fitted instead of Starke.

My first instinct is it looks a pretty poor team aside from the top 2, but as it's a development league - that's no reason not to support the team. With quite a few new 3.00 riders, the league & trophy should be interesting.

Honestly, if Edinburgh could get Wolbert in a 5.00, would be fighting for the title. If he doesn't want to race here regularly, could Monarchs convince him to race 6 meetings (till he gets a new average) the replace him on his new (presumably) higher average?

Those are all perfectly valid points. I don't understand the situation, because none of it makes sense. I'm only making assumptions based on what I've read on here. I (perhaps nievely) believed at the NDL AGM, all 12 clubs came to an agreement then the competition rules / teams were announced. I find it astonishing to imagine someone would change the rules / regulations after any agreement was made by the teams involved, so I never considered that a possibility? Perhaps I'm giving the BSPL too much credit? Just being hopeful the sport will be run well.

The problem is, if the set a precedent by letting Workington change leagues "otherwise they pull out" what's to stop his happening at every AGM? A team doesn't get what it wants & threatens to walk away. I totally agree with the logic of a North & South split, but this should have been decided at the NL meeting, if Workington weren't happy with the logistics, why agree to enter the NDT in the first place?

I don't think that's delusional at all, I'm no Poole fan, but I wouldn't be surprised if Cairns averages over 5.

That explains it, but I seemed to keep reading suggestions that it was announced. Was anything said about the Championship side at the meeting?

Wrong group I know, but if the NL 1-7 was announced, why hasn't it been publicised?

Personally can't see that happening whatsoever. Dropping Cardiff because of the expense shouldn't mean no GPs in Britain.

Plymouth have advertised their season tickets as: 8 league, 2 BSN, 1 KOC & 4 NL fixtures for £300 (standing) & £330 (seating), early bird prices. Can't say £20 a match sounds a great deal to me, especially as four of them are development league matches. What were the prices of single matches this year?

Very interesting

Based on his Championship average, you could argue Harrison is too good for the NL, but based on his NDL average, he clearly didn't dominate the division, so there is development in him as he chases a 10+ average. Riders like Ablitt, Foord & Pijper are similar, their Champ averages would lead you to believe their NDL aves should be far higher.

I guess that's one reason why Poole don't bother with the NDL, let others train up riders & can still pick up the best prospects. I would think Poole is the most "pressure club" to join, the club & fans expect to win every season & riders know they could be dropped if they don't perform, even if the team is doing well. If you don't want any pressure go to Berwick, Edinburgh or Plymouth, they're used to losing lol!