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I'm sure Edinburgh had planned to use Sam Masters, was there a late visa issue? This led to the last minute signing of Vissing. Fans aren't so used to that happening now, hence the worry / panic by some

That makes a lot more sense, agree with that

Do you think Leicester will have a strong number 6? Kemp is on a par with Mountain in the Champ, but agree he's quite a bit stronger than Edwards.

It's funny when you mention Masters as a true "number one" i always think of that as a 9+ rider, but if he's been one of the top 6/7 riders in the league, then I guess he was a "true number one". I'm assuming for Lynn you meant they only have one real number one? Which is why you didn't put them in the top 4, I guess you could argue so do Oxford & Leicester who you've placed above them? For the Brummies even if Brennan does improve to be a heat leaders still think there too far behind the others to be anything other than 7th, hopefully could help them win a few home matches though. On the whole, can't disagree with any of your predictions.

Would love to see Matty Wethers get a chance to resume his British career.

Riders wanting a full time spot wouldn't agree to a temporary gig unless all the team spits were taken, but if riders like Rowe or Gilkes just wanted to do Prem & Poland, they may agree to a temporary place?

I don't understand any suggestions that Redcar could have avoided this or suggestions they've made a mistake by signing an injured rider. Every year teams start with riders who didn't complete the previous season. What would the alternative be? Don't sign riders till they have proved their fully fit (which may not be till March)? So we could potentially have a dozen riders with no teams because they weren't fit in December when teams were signed! Where will these replacements come from anyway, it's not like there's that many available riders without teams to replace Janowski, Klindt, Wright, Woffinden, Gilkes, Perry, Mulford & Jorgensen for example. Redcar are unfortunate, but all they can do is go off the medical advice at the time, that TJ would be fit in March.

Have to agree, even if they only signed a 4.9 rider & finished 2 points below the limit, don't expect them to drop someone else before the season starts.

Now they've signed Perry, the comment about Wood of "It's a big year for Dayle and if the team is going to be successful we will need him to perform at a heat leader level" seems more odd. Perry, Coles & McGurk must be the strongest heat leader trio in the league.

Looks a really good team (in a weaker league) one of the favourites imo

Delighted there's an extra place for qualifiers & one less wild card

It does mean the rider 2nd fastest in practice could earn 0 extra points, while someone finishing 13th gets an extra point.

Honestly it's tough trying to be positive for Birmingham lol! For the sake of their future, I'm probably being generous towards their chances.

To me what's worse is the inconsistency, Pedersen rode on an average that was 12 years old. Woffinden, Lidsey, Kasprzak & Jakobsen kept the same averages. Janowski's was lowered, but Pawlicki & Milik's were increased.

Being positive means I'm hoping Brummies will win half their home matches, being negative would be me thinking they'll score 40 at home each week & 30 away each week. Still think they'll finish bottom.

I would assume so, most clubs have built / look likely to build teams well below the points limit, you don't do that if winning is your main objective. So why would they pay over the agreed pay structures if just wanting to develop riders?

Trying to be positive for Brummies I'll suggest, Worrall not far behind Iversen & Tungate. Brennan not far behind B.Cook & Ellis. Lampart could be stronger than Blodorn, Rew, Palm-Toft & Howarth. But even if these prove true, still expecting Brummies to finish bottom.

If true I hope Workington stick to their ground, while Vissing would be a great signing, don't risk the clubs future, please.

You could argue by signing Tarasenko Glasgow built to a higher points limit than everyone else, the rules were stupid, but you can't blame Glasgow for that. Imo any team winning with Tarasenko on a 5.00 would be a hollow victory.

But Poole signed Zach before the Australian season, so they can't have planned to use him as a second string based on pre-season form. Even if Poole went for Rowe & Newman instead of Brennan & Thomsen, Zach could still have ridden at number 4 anyway.

I don't think that's in doubt, but Masters was asked to be a number one for Wolves, at Leicester as a 3rd heat leader, sounds a very good signing.

I'd put Kemp in the bottom half of the number 6s, but that shouldn't be an issue as the teams strength is their top 5.

But these same promotions voted for a higher points limit. If they were so worried one team will be too weak & hurt their crowds, have a lower limit to share the riders out more?

Can't disagree with any of those points

Now all the teams are complete my predictions are: 1st - Ipswich. Fantastic top 2 is what makes them favourites for me. Dan T has been an impressive RS, with an injury free season, should be one of the better ones. Ellis & Rew have room for improvement, but I think there a top team even if they don't. 2nd - Oxford. Good number one then 4 3rd heat leaders / top second strings & the best reserve in the league. Weak RS, but shouldn't hinder them too much. 3rd - Leicester. Very good top 5, like Wolves last year, but with a stronger number 1. Possibly have the weakest reserve pairing, which means a play-off spot is not a certainty. 4th - King's Lynn. Good number one & a solid top 4. Possibly the best reserve duo in the league. 5th - Sheffield. Great top 2. Solid 3&4. But weaker at reserve (especially number 6). 6th - Belle Vue. A lot depends on Bewley as he could turn a solid top 2/3 into a great top 2/3. Don't see so much improvement in their second strings & don't look great at reserve either. 7th - Birmingham. None of the riders they've signed are particularly bad signings, most can probably up their averages. It's just a team that would look like Champions in a 36 point league, but they're racing in a 40 point league. In conclusion, I think Ipswich are a cut above the rest. There's very little between 2nd to 5th. Belle Vue slightly behind & Brummies favourites for the wooden spoon.