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Starke was signed because he fitted in the averages, personally I thought he'd up his average (I was wrong). I said pre-season of have Vissing before Flint, didn't understand that change. Pearson having such a low away average, makes it understandable they'd drop him. Plus the fact he was a 4 point rider in the top 5, then puts a point on his average once he dropped to reserve. Starting next season on a 5+ average as a second string, can easily see that dropping again! Now Jack Smith would be available at reserve again on a 3.68 average, he could be in the team plans.

If everything went well then they could've been. Harris riding like the number one he is, Worrall putting half a point on his average, Flint improving like Tom Brennan, Pearson showing his Plymouth form after leaving Birmingham, Complin putting 1+ on his average, this putting Starke to reserve - see his Workington scores, then Pijper at reserve scoring above oppositions 2.00 riders. Now these aims weren't realistic, but they were possible, to expect them all to happen at the same time was unlikely. Imo they certainly overrated thier riders, then the team rode below even most fans realistic expectations.

No complaints with that, even if it's not 14, at least a 7 day recovery period.

Being old fashioned I guess, I think Lawson should've won this meeting on 13 points, no need to have a final.

Perhaps of any rider pulls out of the riders championship, they should be banned from racing in the play-offs? That would stop this sort of thing happening, providing it was raced before the play-offs started.

Indeed, had Zmarzlik finished 4th on the final & it went to the last round. He may have won the world title in his first race, but we wouldn't know about it till doing the sums after heat 20. Worst scoring system ever!

I'm guessing you think the RS system will be removed then?

Happy enough with your U21 suggestion, question - if Lambert & Bewley were "rising stars" at 20 years old, would you have them riding at reserve or on the heat leader positions their averages dictated? Re, riders not being allowed to return to the RS scheme once they've "graduated" if a rider gets 3 3.90 ave one season, 3.80 the next, 3.70 after that, do they really deserve to be a "rising star" over someone who averaged 3.98 then 4.02, then 3.98 again?

Think you're being harsh on Ablitt as he's just had his best season in the sport.

Brennan would be a number 1 in 6 of the 9 clubs, he's already at that standard. Only at 5 because Poole have Lawson.

Fair points, I guess if I was Cami or Middlo I'd say, "we want to give ourselves the best possible chance in the second leg, so we want to keep it within 10 points" I wouldn't even say "we don't want it going to 14-16 points, as it prob too much to make up" - that's just negative. I'd focus on the positives for the riders & fans.

Scunthorpe have been really disappointing in their last couple of big matches losing at home to Poole and then Oxford. I really thought they'd be strong enough to at least win at home, even if they'd struggle on aggregate, due to being weaker away. After a strong season at home, very poor show when they needed their riders to step up. From a neutrals point of view means the BSN final will be a no contest too.

Still confused why Kemp is being overlooked, or Bowtell / Joe T as Barkers replacement? If highest average was the priority then Ben Cook & Jake Allen would've been in before Vuolas & Barker to start with? Have they changed the qualifying criteria?

They might think that & it may be true, but surely they'd never publicly say that. Would be terrible motivation for the team to announce "we don't think we can pull 14 points back". I was surprised at Gavin Parr's comments ahead of the Oxford KOC ties, saying along the lines of, "we won't give up" we'll give it our all" etc. to me that sounded like someone who knows he is beaten, but calling for his team not to give up, rather than a team with an equal chance of winning!

I would absolutely love Ipswich to qualify for the final, mainly because I'm very much against Leicester being gifted top qualifying spot when they finished 2nd.

Think he could put a point on his average & be one of the top men in the league, average shouldn't put anyone off.

But that makes no sense, they would've just called it off at 5pm if that was the case. Calling it off at start time is the refs decision not the home promotions

You can aim for a closer match, but still be satisfied with a 14 points deficit. Poole still favourites, but gives Workington a little more belief & could help the second leg crowd.

Think Pirates will have one foot in the final after tonight, but for Workington's sake, hope it's close enough time keep the second leg interesting.

The National League Riders’ Development Series is a series of individual events, but they are not connected to each other, there is no overall winner. Sadly there is no NDLRC this year, despite Poole calling their staging that.

That's easy to answer, highest averaged rider from every club, top 7 second heat leaders. Cook & Allen are 3rd heat leaders. Talking about available riders here, even though he's 5th in the averages Vuolas is Workington's second rider for this event, so ranks above Cook & Allen (but below Kemp).

For an event on the 15th of the month, you'd think they'd use the September averages?

Of course Barker isn't the rider he used to be, that's why he'd be available as a 6 point second string not a 9+ heat leader. I've never understood that argument, if you had to sign him on his old average, of course you'd be like "that's a mistake he's not the rider he was" but the way averages & team building works, Barker can still do something in the middle of the team. I'd try & get the 3 mentioned plus Bowtell back.

Don't understand your logic, if clubs can't find replacements surely you'd want to lower the limit? If they increase the limit, where will the new heat leaders come from? If commitments in other leagues is an issue, make all teams use 2 x NL riders at reserve, at least they won't miss matches to ride in Poland!

So Kemp (6.63) overlooked behind Barker (6.32) & Vuolas (6.29)? All 3 are second choice riders for their clubs!