szkocjasid

The problem is, I don't think they would have two strong reserves all year (unless Joe T improves). If they had Bowtell & a 5.00 reserve, I'd say you could cover for lack of heat leader strength, but not when built 1+ points below the limit.

Technically you can, 15 x 3-3s then a 5-4 "stupidheat" win

Unless your name's Maciej Janowski?

Which of the top 5 riders would you have dropped though? All good signings imo.

If Bailey & Edwards ride to their potential, gonna have an excellent top 5.

Think Poole are going to have the best top 4 in the league. Expect them all to hit 8 point averages in a weaker league.

I'd go for Paul Starke & Ryan Kinsley or Max Perry.

My point was it's not as simple as that. It's not like Woffy has to ride for Wroclaw or he's banned from racing in Poland, there's plenty of clubs he could move to, to earn good money. So why does he accept being "bullied" into racing when not fit?

For me Oxford Cheetahs should have been the Prem side, Oxford Chargers or Rebels or Silver Machine for the Champ side & Oxford Cubs or Cheetah Cubs for the NL side.

Riders seem to scared to stand up to their Polish teams, look at Woffinden, seems he was "forced" to race when injured in the play-offs when he didn't want to, if a 3 times world champion won't stand up to them who will? What does Woffy do this year, sign for the same team again - so why would his club ever put his health first again? They've shown winning is more important. Surely another Extraliga club would've jumped at the opportunity of singing Tai if he wasn't happy with how he was treated? Regarding Laguta, it was very disrespectful of him to call off injured / ill then post on IG when out a run, almost like he was laughing as his UK team imo.

That didn't answer my comment, I said I hadn't seen a rule saying only one Champ rider per NL team.

With only 10 matches in the NL or wouldn't be too much hardship for Boughen to for the matches into his fixture list. But I assume with Prem, Champ & U24 league, he'll have enough racing without NL. Perhaps the Spires should have picked Atkins as the RS to convince Boughen to stay at NL level then once he's committed drop Atkins for him in the top league lol!

How about? Belle Vue Sam Hagon 8.24 Freddie Hodder 6.44 Sam McGurk 6.08 Josh Warren 4.93 Mickie Simpson 4.23 Harry McGurk 3.00 Ashton Vale 3.00 Total 35.92

Hagon & Hodder is now a strong top 2 in this league. Don't think Smith with fit in with them.

Wanted to give others a chance lol!

That's because they've lazily only chosen averages to "maintain the ethos" of the league. It's gonna be easier for a journeyman 40 year old 6 point rider to get a team spot than a 16 year old 7.5 rider in his second season for example!

Doesn't look strong, but in a weaker league they'd be play-off contenders imo

Yeah I've read rumors of Worrall to Glasgow, but until it's announced, I count him as available.

I'd say it's looks an ok / mid-table team. So in a weaker league that should mean they are play-off contenders.

Think this would be an awesome team Scunthorpe Steve Worrall 7.84 Michael P Toft 7.01 Simon Lambert 5.87 Anders Rowe 5.80 Drew Kemp 5.19 Zaine Kennedy 4.27 Luke Harrison 2.00 Total 37.98

Ablitt went from a sub-2.00 average to 3.00 riding in the more difficult number 6 position, think he & the club can be very pleased with his progress imo. Gilkes would be a very good signing.

I'll go for: Luke Killeen 7.73 Jody Scott 5.31 Alex Spooner 5.07 Jacob Clouting 5.05 Jason Garrad 4.77 Arran Butcher 4.69 Senna Summers 3.00 Total 35.62

Predictions & comments for 2024 welcome. I have no idea of the team, but there will be plenty changes with Jenkins & Atkins not in the NL in 2024. Almost said Boughen too, before I remembered he was at Leicester last year lol!

If I was being really pedantic, I'd reply with - why even have a league? Why does the top team win, why not give 3 points to all riders who complete a race? I'm sure everyone would say "that's insane" - so clearly the result does matter - after all when riders go to the tapes the aim is to win the heat - you don't see top riders miss the gate on purpose to practice their overtaking do you? Also if the strength of teams doesn't matter why even have a points limit? I would change a couple of things to make it more of a "development" league - like the Prem, weakest rider has to go at 7 (can't be replaced in heat 8) look at Mildenhall last year, William Richardson getting the harder rides, while his stronger reserve partner meets a reserve in every race. There's no way that was don't for his development - weakest riders at 7 meeting each other more & stronger riders at 6 racing opposition second strings must be better for everyone's development - so clearly Mildenhall did this to win. If the number 6 couldn't replace the number 7 baring injuries (call him a supplementary reserve) all riders would likely get 4 rides a match - it just goes a bit further than simply stopping tac subs, which they do to stop riders missing rides (unless you have a strong reserve).

Some people say the weakest team gets first pick of the RS, if true Birmingham would have taken Flint before Leicester got the chance - personally I don't know why that rule would even need to exist! EDIT the latest SGB post explains the RS ruling & for the first time I've seen it announced that the lowest ranked team gets pick of RS.