szkocjasid

They only use one average, which is a riders starting average. Therefore Hagon has a lower average than Borke & will start at reserve.

No he won't.

Best time to run it is early season when riders want "paid practice". Be good for Monarchs new boys & hopefully some former favourites to help generate a big crowd.

It was always announced as provisional when they listed the KOC quarter finals. Even when the fixtures were posted Sheffield vs Poole was still listed as provisional. Can't blame Poole imo. Perhaps the BSPL should have given them a month to declare either way, so it would have been sorted sooner, but if they let Poole take their time, can you really blame Poole? I'm disappointed I'm Poole's lack of ambition, I know it'll cost more, but I honestly expected a massive crowd for the Premiership fixtures. But at the same time, it's their business & if they want to look after number one, that's their choice.

You would imagine the top riders should end up with higher averages, for example the two number ones only met once. By that logic others would have harder rides (no heat 12&14, where a top 4 rider meets a reserve) so middle order rider averages could have been lower? Apart from including bonus points, then they are higher. Simple really lol! I'll add a point about Oxford so it's relevant, I'm surprised they dropped Chris Harris, especially as they're apparently struggling for the last rider?

That doesn't make a difference, the averages have always been based on 4 rides, so amount of heats per match shouldn't change anything. 6 or 8 man teams would.

What point are you making as Spiderman1 rates Scunthorpe to do well?

Exclude Plymouth & that's a very good prediction

Probably agree they won't make the play-offs, not that I think they're a bad team (be a boring forum if we all agreed lol). I could see them finishing 8th, but only a couple of points off 4th, think it could be that close.

Poole: clearly not a strong as last year, could struggle at reserve till Cairns signs, still expect them to make the top 4, with Rowe a big improver. Oxford: I really think they've got lots of potential in the reserve berths, which could see Gilkes & Knudsen ending up there, which is a power packed bottom end. Obvious problem is 2nd & 3rd heat leaders, but bottom end could cover that, play-off contenders. Scunthorpe: as I said above see improvement from ZK, so expect a strong reserve pairing & plenty of home wins. Not favourites for a top 4 spot, but in contention. Workington: far better reserves than last year, top 3 awesome at home. If Zischke & Vuolas can improve their away form, great chance of a top 4 spot. Also a big season for Bowes & Etheridge, if they can do enough to keep Foord & Hook at reserve, looks very solid. Glasgow: Must be the best top 5 in the league, but also the weakest reserve pairing by far. Dan T, Howarth (if he's at 3) should be pushing 8 point averages. Flint & Boughen should be putting a point on their averages. Just becomes a question of can they win the league with 5 riders scoring the baulk of the points? Redcar: best heat leader trio by far, King should add something to his average (if at 3). Really impressed by Jason Edwards, so an awesome top 4 in truth. Question marks over the bottom 3, Mulford has been a slow improver, but now in the top 5, think it could be a struggle for him to maintain his average. Reserves only slightly better than Glasgow's. The top 4 makes it look at play-offs side though. Edinburgh: lacking a top rider, but have a very solid 1-6 & the best 2 pointer imo. Not favourites, but see no reason why they can't mount a play-off challenge. Plymouth: look the weakest team so far, Klindt's average will drop, but he's a good number one. Even weaker heat leaders than Oxford. Fredriksen should do well, which could leave Bowtell as a potent reserve. But this looks a wooden spoon side to me. Berwick: much better looking team than in recent years, looks a strong top 2, Kemp looked good at the end of last year & should carry on that improvement. Borke is tough to call, was very good at number 7, but now starts in the top 5 after coming back from a serious injury. Whoever is at reserve with Wood should do well there though. There's not a lot between the teams so tough to pick a finishing order, probably say: Redcar & Glasgow top 2. Poole bound to make the top 4, they always do. Maybe Oxford, Workington & Berwick favourites for 4th. Scunthorpe, Edinburgh in with a chance. Plymouth rank outsiders.

Quite a few don't rate Scunthorpe, but I think they a decent looking side. I'm expecting big things from Zaine Kennedy, pushing Luke Harrison back to reserve, where he should then add to his average. So if Declan Kennedy can simply keep his assessed average, then they'll have one of the strongest reserve pairings in the league. Might not be great away, but the top 4 are all capable of winning multiple races at home.

Bit strange to say Edinburgh will struggle unless one of their new signings drops his average lol! Assuming you're meaning if he drops to 4.00, allows a change, then gets back to his starting 6.00 average? Otherwise how would one rider dropping points to be gained by another strengthen the team? Mind you, if he can average 8.00, that's the 2 point advantage without the need for another change.

I think this is one of the most open seasons for a long time. I can't see an outright favourite, there's 8 clubs who can challenge for the play-offs, only Plymouth look out of it & massive favourites for the wooden spoon. Every other team can be positive of their chances for the coming season.

If they stay on a 2.00 average & impress, then yes they'll be putting themselves in the shop window. However if they do a Foord & get a 4.00 average, all of a sudden made themselves hard to sign.

That is a really good point. Jack Smith could easily put out a similar post calling out Simon Lambert.

With there being 6 NL teams & only 5 NT teams, you'd think there's no reason not to allow Mildenhall to join in?

A couple of thoughts about comments from Simon Lambert about the Scunthorpe NDL team (I'll ignore Sheffield as they seem to be ignoring the team so far lol). http://scunthorpe-speedway.com/?p=18241 “We were let down by Vinnie Foord, who agreed to ride for us. Once you’ve done a deal with a rider, you don’t expect them to change their mind, but Vinnie did, which was disappointing" David Norris then replied on the post with "Apologies Simon Lambert regarding Vinnie Foord Please let it known it wasn't Vinnies fault, he just wants to ride speedway bikes, but it was my call as he already had other commitments" I'm gonna have to disagree with Norris here, wether he's Vinnie's manager or advisor or whatever, ultimately it's Vinnie's choice if he signs for Scunthorpe whether Norris agreed with it or not? Foord has the right to change his mind, but if he's made that decision, don't think Norris should take them blame, he can advise him all he likes, but Vinnie's gotta decide what's best for him. Lambert then says: “Another rider we were very much considering was Harry Fletcher, but we ended up with a side where we didn’t need a third rider on a 3.00 average.” So while they didn't need a third 3.00 rider, doesn't mean they couldn't have built a team a couple of points under the limit? I guess they want to build a team that can be competitive, while still developing riders?

What you've said makes far more sense, I couldn't understand why it was unfortunate if he'd turned down Kent twice. It's a real shame for him. If I was a Speedway rider, I'd want a signed contract before turning down another club.

As soon as MPT got a new Prem average he'd definitely sign for a Champ side on his new converted figure. It may even be sooner than that, it could be ride ONE match & he uses his converted ave. Then as soon as he rode for a Champ side, his converted ave would change back to his rolling Champ ave.

Doesn't surprise me in the slightest, if there's a low points limit, then there's always a chance a heat leader will be left without a team spot.

No 1) I thought Rew made the decision to leave & go elsewhere, so not much Witches can do about that. 2) I think Ipswich look the strongest team by far & should be massive favourites for the league already. Even if Rew outscores King & Ellis, still favour the Witches over any other team. 3) for Birmingham's sake I really hope he does have a good season

Maybe he thought he had a team place elsewhere that didn't come off? Just felt an odd choice of wording to me?

How is it unfortunate to not have a team spot, when he declined them?

I agree that would be better. Maybe the agreement should have been to sign unattached riders, if Poole didn't agree, race without them? Although part of me feels in a league where plentiful guests are used what harm is a couple more?

You mean Poole I'm guessing? Personally I see no major reason for them to be invited and see nothing wrong with a team getting a bye. But also not bothered that they were invited in either. I guess I feel there have been far more "farcical" decisions made in recent seasons (GP wildcards based on Nationality or Premiership play-offs picked for "commercial" reasons) so this seems very tame in comparison.