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How can this show "the depths Birmingham have stopped to" they didn't decide the riders averages, that was the BSPL (management committee maybe). I merely pointed out it could suit the Brummies.

It actually suits Birmingham for their riders to be on these averages rather than Pawlicki (7.32), Milk (5.67) & Lampart (5.00) as it means if anyone is missing they'll be able to use stronger guests or r/r. Plus Z.Cook at reserve could be a real trump card. However I don't understand how they can increase the averages of Pawlicki & Milik, but decrease Janowski's, while Pedersen, Kasprzak & Woffinden returned on their old averages. Should rules not be consistent for all?

Probably not, but Zach Cook & Leon Flint could get a 5-1 over Sheffield's reserves in heat 2.

Well they could have a strict "development" pay structure & still allow Clegg & Morley to race. If they're happy to be a rider / coach for expenses only great, if not - that's fine too, but at least it's their choice.

Absolutely not, but the new rules mean riders like Luke Crang or Tom Woolley can ride forever in the development league for fun, but riders like Max Clegg & Ben Morley can't. I actually think the Morley's & Clegg's are needed more, to let the top developing riders know they are ready to step up into the Champ. If you can beat them, you're ready to move up.

Great point

I really hope there isn't a double change, if Workington are struggling for a 7th rider, just sign the best available. If they're under the limit they can still give all their riders 6 meetings before the league starts to prove themselves before considering strengthening up. Will take a long time for any averages to change, so if below the limit, the spare points won't disappear any time soon.

I'm certainly not very excited about the NL this year. When I look at the teams I don't see a lot of riders & think to myself, wow that's a team with lots of potential, I more think, there's a bunch of riders who aren't good enough / haven't improved enough / will never make it into the Champ. Having riders racing for a hobby, or Career NL second strings / reserves actually never bothered me in previous years, really when they kinda screamed it's a DEVELOPMENT league to us this year, I see all the flaws of their plan. To me it just looks a very weak league. Obviously Max Perry not getting a team spot greatly annoys me, a 16 year old in his first Champ season is exactly the sort of rider the NL should be designed for imo. After two seasons in the NL, it's sink or swim for him in the Champ. I mostly blame Leicester for this, signing Joe T over Perry goes against the new "ethos" of the league imo.

So far Leicester look streets above the rest imo. Oxford ahead of Belle Vue.

Really? Can't say I remember Ipswich fans being unhappy with the Doyle signing.

A riders worth should be based solely on how much money is coming into a club. Doesn't really matter how much any rider wants to spend on equipment / mechanics / vans etc. Clubs should only pay out what comes in.

Using that logic, which I fully agre with. Luke will develop less on this year's NDL than last year's? With a weaker league he may just win all his heats from the gate. Obviously track time is vital at that age, but I wonder would the likes of Luke learn more from racing against the Clegg's & Morley's of the world?

Of course everyone has their own opinion, but it seems to me you've listed the absolute worse case scenario possible with every rider & declared that's what will happen!

Bit strange to say they need Dayle to perform as a heat leader to be successful. They are bound to have 3 riders with higher averages. Does that mean they expect one of them to fail or they are looking for 4 heat leaders in the team? Mind you in a weaker league, he's not far from heat leader level at his current ability.

Out of curiosity, who do you think will finish out of the play-off spots (besides Birmingham)?

I really like the look of the Oxford team. Got a good number one, then 4 third heat leaders / strong second strings. Plus Lewis Kerr as a fabulous reserve. I think this is where Oxford biggest strength is, I'd rate Kerr above second strings such as Blodorn, Z.Cook, Rew, Palm-Toft & Howarth. To me they are certainly play-off candidates, but so are the other 5 completed teams. Hopefully set for a very exciting season.

Regarding responses (or lack of) from promoters at clubs. I won 2 free tickets to a match via the Speedy scores game on twitter. Got a message from the official British speedway account informing me. On July 24th told them of the match I'd like, on August 6th reminded them I hadn't got an answer, on August 17th reminded them I still hadn't got an answer, on August 18th they replied saying they'd look into it. On August 21st queried again & got the information I was after on August 22nd. They may have been nudged into action by a friend who knew someone on the social media team speaking to them. Obviously I kept on at them as it was a free ticket I had won. But if this was an attempt by me to purchase a ticket etc, i would have long given up & they would have lost a sale. Speedway promotions can't afford to alinatate any fans, while it's struggling in this country, so clubs have got to gets their acts together sharpish, when dealing with emails from supporters etc.

Totally agree I particularly dislike the posts that say someone's team is wrong, but won't say what the correct team is.

The last comments you make sum up Birmingham's team imo. They are all decent enough signings, but as the league is now stronger, they look the weakest team. But not as bad as many suggest imo

Even if Hans is past his best in the Champ, I'd still sign him if he was the best option available (I don't believe he is). Saying "Comets could do better" is a perfectly sensible comment. I agree both Vissing or Rowe would be better signings than Hans.

Never understood that argument, of course he's well past his best, you don't expect to sign a current GP rider / multiple round winner in the Championship now do you? Plus at his best, Hans wouldn't fit as a 3rd heat leader in the Champ. If you had said "hope not, his average is likely to go down' - that would have made sense. I made similar comments about Iversen at Lynn "he's not the rider he once was" - of course he isn't, as he wouldn't be a 3rd heat leader / second string at his best!

If Iversen is at reserve Lynn will win the league i.e I don't expect his average to drop much at all

True, but I can't see much chance of Berge racing in the Championship

Got a better top 2 than Edinburgh, Plymouth & Scunthorpe imo

Vissing is the best option by far for me.