szkocjasid

Really like the look of the Leicester top 5 (obviously) just depends if the reserves can back then up. Big season for Kemp jumping out of the RS position, but he's had experience of racing at number 6 with Wolves, so really should add to his 3.03 average, so they've been clever there. Really just leaves Joe T as the weak link, good luck to him, but he looks to be one of the weakest two RS in the league.

Bit of a lopsided fixture list, 4 matches in April, but only 1 in June & 2 in July. At least there's 5 NL fixtures to fit in to plug the gaps.

The Belle Vue team doesn't look bad at all, but so far all 6 completed sides look decent, so hopefully it'll be a very close league. On paper I'd say Belle Vue don't look a "top 4" team, but if they can get lots of bonus points - can make it.

He's not as good as Mountain or Bailey so no place for him in the team.

Agreed, two good signings.

How about? Scunfield Nathan Ablitt 8.49 Luke Harrison 6.86 Ace Pijper 5.81 Alex Spooner 5.07 Luke Crang 3.61 Senna Summers 3.00 Stene Pijper 3.00 Total 35.84

So how about? Edinburgh Tom Woolley 6.64 Greg Blair 6.33 Matt Marson 5.86 Alex Spooner 5.07 Dayle Wood 4.50 Mickie Simpson 4.23 Kyren Lyden 3.00 Total 35.63

I'll start this for predictions & comments for the coming season. Despite Max James signing fir the senior side, I expect he'll stay with Leicester in the NL?

Looks a very weak team, but that's always the case when the first team is (almost) declared with a lower points limit. Once other sides are completed, they may not look so bad.

My top 20 of the season (weighted averages) 1. Jordan Jenkins - 10.80 2. Dan Thompson - 10.54 3. Connor Bailey - 10.12 4. Henry Atkins - 10.03 5. Alfie Bowtell - 9.64 6. Joe Thompson - 9.41 7. Max Clegg - 9.38 8. James Pearson - 9.24 9. Jack Smith - 9.09 10. Adam Roynon - 8.67 11. Nathan Ablitt - 8.55 12. Sam Hagon - 8.39 13. Lee Complin - 8.36 14. Jacob Hook - 8.35 14. Luke Killeen - 8.35 16. Ben Morley - 8.07 17. Ryan Kinsley - 7.88 18. Ashton Boughen - 7.78 19. Max Perry - 7.59 20. Luke Harrison - 6.93

Now Leicester are complete, probably won't change. 1. Oxford 2. Ipswich 3. Leicester 4. Sheffield 5. King's Lynn 6. Belle Vue 7. Birmingham

I get the point you make about Sedgmen, on a 7.7 average of course you wouldn't expect him to beat the likes of Masters & Nicholls in heats 13+15, but he rode at number 5 all last year to achieve that average. With several heat leaders missing this year, logically his average should go up!

Think you are rating the Sheffield reserves a bit too highly. For example 4 teams have rising stars stronger than Sheffield's number 6. Edwards is promising but as a number 6, gives them a weak reserve pairing imo.

Guess I can update my predictions (based on announced riders) 1. Oxford 2. Ipswich 3. Sheffield 4. King's Lynn 5. Belle Vue 6. Leicester 7. Birmingham

Was gonna say the same thing, if you think Janowski could drop to reserve or Kerr move up to number one, you need your head checked lol!

To me he did as well as you'd expect of a 16 year old in his first Champ season. After half a season of NL racing it was big jump up to be a reserve for Redcar. I was a little surprised his NL average wasn't higher (it's not bad) after his guest appearances at the end of last season, but it was still a point above Ace Pijper & look how well he did for Glasgow. I wouldn't call him a "trump card" like a David Howe, Tai Woffinden or Jordan Palin who were expected to take the second tier by storm in their first season - but these sort of riders don't come along every season. He's still a promising rider & a good signing on a 2.00 ave.

How about? Scunthorpe Kyle Howarth 7.76 Michael P Toft 7.01 Simon Lambert 5.87 Anders Rowe 5.80 Connor Mountain 5.28 Zaine Kennedy 4.27 Luke Harrison 2.00 Total 37.99

1) I've not seen that rule posted anywhere official. 2) it seems a pointless rule with NL teams only racing 10 fixtures, can't be expecting many fixture clashes 3) it would be very hard to regulate mid-season, for example lets say every single NL team has the one doubling up rider allowed. If a Champ reserve gets injured, then the next best NL rider would have to give up his slot in order to race in the Champ? - mind you if a rule is ill thought out & not gonna work, probably means they'd vote it in lol! 4) now I'm sure this would never happen, but hypothetically Oxford's reserve gets injured, but because they have a chance of winning the NL they could choose not to use one of their own NL riders & take one from their nearest rivals to help them win the NL?

The problem with going solely by age, is age discrimination is illegal. When the "rising star" system was first introduced riders had to be under 26, unless they had ridden less than 3 seasons (senior racing), which is why Luke Crang was on the RS list for example. In any "normal" job a 50 year old can still apply for a apprenticeship, sounding want to stop late starters getting team places because of their age.

To me Oxford made a mistake announcing their whole (Premiership) team at once. The return of Janowski to British Speedway should be headline news, but to me it's lost on the shuffle with the whole team announcement. Or is the the whole team announcement is glossed over by the Janowski signing. The announcements don't have to be spread over a long period, even announcing one a day for a week, with an accompanying interview with the rider, would allow each signing his moment in the limelight.

If Joe gets a team spot but Max doesn't I'd be disappointed with Leicester (although they are just trying to win) but also with the BSPL, should be a rule that you can't ride in all 3 leagues. After all of you're good enough for the Prem, must be too good for the NL right?

The problem with using averages is it's easier for a rider with a 5 point ave to get a team place, even if he's been riding for 15 years & will never develop past that level, than for Perry in her s second season to get a team spot as he's improved "too much" I've often thought what if your average was divided by the amount of NL seasons you've raced? Something like after one season get 25% off your average, 2 seasons 20% off etc, after 6 years, no more reductions? Just a way for a rider like Perry only 16 not to miss out on a NL place because he developed too much too soon?

It will be interesting to see who leads to Cubs team.

Call me cynical, but is this what the BSPL had in mind, when they made the points limit for 2024, to assist with youth development?

First news I've heard for the Cubs team in 2024 is no Max Perry. Thank You to Leicester Speedway Supporters’ club for my award and a fantastic evening. Sadly I will not be representing Leicester next season as my average has placed me out of a team spot, as I only found out last night, I am now without a NDL place for 2024 https://twitter.com/MaxPerryRacing5/status/1731373615092814042?t=bSexxJdbaF88icGq7_0AjA&s=19