Islander15

I really do hope Scunthorpe come back. The best club in the country for talent for the last few years!

15.33 left for 3 riders so not both of those! About the best trio imo are Jensen, Anderson & Starke but I think Benko will struggle even if he is at reserve!

Reignites the debate of why isn't a 3.00 Brit in (which Chessell himself is and tbh Chessell isn't up to PL standard)?

You didn't follow the NL very closely then. He started at reserve & I'm sure if scored about 19 from 7 and I think he hit a maximum when he was alongside Lambert and he got about 15 from 7 to win the meeting at Kent. He carried on that form into the main body before he got injured (I think it was a dislocated shoulder). He's a talent and might not do a Kerr but I expect to see him push the 5.00 figure, maybe 4.50. He's definitely one of the best 3.00 riders & if EL sides have any chance he'll be one of the best B grade reserves and should get picked soon!

He had an operation on his leg in June and sold most of his gear, but he kept some because he said he wants to come back if he can.

That was the one that screamed at me too! But a few EL snobs seem to think he's the same rider he was a few years ago so maybe the promoters do too...

Riders with a PL average above 4.00 cannot double-up. However if a rider is in an NL declaration, and not PL at the start of the season but signs for a PL team mid season he can double-up if his average is below 5.00 (eg Wright this year). Therefore the following riders are ineligibke for NL next year if they sign for a PL team: Blackbird, Morris, Wright, Ellis, Nielsen, Kerr & Boxall.

With the likes of Blackbird, Ellis, Wright and Boxall set to be ineligible for next years' NL, he may turn out to be the top rider in the division which will surely only help his confidence and increase his PL scores!

That's because I run the account Look at my signature But seriously, I hope they do return! In terms of youth development I truly believe that Scunthorpe are one of the best this century.

Blackbird has far more potential.

Any suggestions as to who those might be?

Coventry confirmed last month that they will definitely be running NL in 2014. I'm just hoping the Islanders state likewise! I don't think it's clear cut that Dudley will be back either as they could go PL with the 14H/14A league fixtures allowing themselves, Peterborough and one other to join. I'm sure it would be beneficial for EL teams to run a NL team to give their reserves home track time, and for the likes of KL who have done this for several years already that's why I think they deserve to have Lambert & Kerr at reserve despite it being easily the strongest pair in the league... Sticking with NL, BV ran the Colts a couple of years ago, Poole ran Bournemouth, Birmingham ran the Bulls in challenge meetings and I'm sure Leicester could sustain NL racing, so even though I don't think we'll see mre than 8 teams at the tapes I think it would be worthwhile for some EL teams (other than Coventry & KL) to invest! Anyone heard anything about a return for Scunthorpe Saints?

1. Nick Morris 8.84 2. Lewis Blackbird 4.93 3. Leigh Lanham 7.16 4. Cameron Heeps 6.74 5. Rohan Tungate 7.05 6. Josh Bates 3.00 7. Adam Ellis 4.25 Several other options at #1: Worrall, Grajczonek, Lawson... Thoughts?

And what will happen with regards to averages as Stoke's are obscured by having ridden 2 less home meetings therefore making their riders more attractive propositions. The same can be said to KL to a lesser extent and Dudley, Kent & Mildenhall all have slightly higher figures.

Maybe 1. Richie Worrall 8.64 2. Jan Graversen 5.25 3. Josh Auty 7.24 4. Tero Aarnio 6.86 5. Sam Masters 7.43 6. 3.00 7. Ryan Douglas 5.03 It does seem harsh on Jorgy, Howe & Blackbird though! I hope I'm wrong because that doesn't look league winning, but I noticed Richie tweeted that he's sorted a British team for 2014.

Couldn't agree more! Also I'd like to see both reserves, at the start of the season, need to be 3.00 riders.

Thanks. I hope he can! The only one that ending the season and wouldn't have a stupidly high average is Kosciuch on 8.43 but then you may as well sign Worrall or Morris. Has Rob said he's building to put him at reserve because 5.03 is a massive figure and I agree that it'd be hard to have him and Blackbird at reserve but I can see Blackbird pushing past 6.00 next year. 1. Sam Masters 7.43 2. Thomas Jorgensen 6.15 3. Ashley Birks 7.30 4. David Howe 6.34 5. Josh Auty 7.24 6. Oliver Greenwood 3.00 7. Ryan Douglas 5.03 Total: 42.49 There's a couple of 3.00 riders around with Scunny connections: Josh Bates, Max Clegg, Steve Worrall... On another note. Is Howe fit to ride next year as well?

Is Birks going to be fit for next season?

I agree that the silence is deafening and hopefully we'll hear confirmation that Stoke will ride in 2014 soon. So here's my shot at 7 fairly cheap riders (I assume Worrall will be in demand): 1. Ben Reade 7.70 2. Lee Payne 4.90 3. Lee Smart 5.76 4. Benji Compton 6.37 5. James Sarjeant 7.38 6. 3.14 7. Luke Priest 4.75 Personally I'd like to see a rule brought in where both reserves have to start on a 3.00 average, so... 1. Paul Starke 9.93 2. Lee Payne 4.90 3. Luke Priest 4.75 4. Benji Compton 6.37 5. Ben Reade 7.70 6. 3.00 7. 3.00

He rode NL and is eligible to ride for Team GB if he so chooses. He attempted to ride NL this year (for IOW) but was then told he couldn't as he had participated in the Aussie champs this year. Again, he's eligible to ride for Team GB if he wants... I don't want another Heeps debate but I think it's his grandparents that are British.

If we're interpreting 'NL riders' as those who have ridden in the NL but haven't had a permanent EL place then here are the top 20 (in average order): A: Cameron Heeps Lewis Kerr Jason Garrity Lewis Blackbird Stefan Nielsen Charles Wright Adam Ellis Ashley Morris Jake Anderson Paul Starke B: Joe Jacobs Lewis Rose Robert Lambert Robert Branford Ben Reade Jake Knight Josh Bates James Sarjeant Ben Morley Ben Hopwood But that doesn't take into account riders' ages and why Poole are rumoured to want to use Kyle Newman... Tbh it just seems like Vatcher & Morris are going to pick their favourite 20 riders! And under 2013 rules, 9 of those are ineligible for the NL in 2014.

SImple question here but have the BSPA looked at this properly? Currently riders with a PL average over 4.00 can't ride in the NL also so Kerr, Ellis, Nielsen, Morris, Blackbird to name a few are forced to enter the EL as riders in the main body, without giving them the security of heat 2. I mean that with no disrepect at all, as looking at my signature will show you that I'm a staunch advocate of the NL but I don't see how it is helpful by throwing these riders in at the deep end, whilst riders of lesser ability still will be up against the likes of Woffinden in the EL when they're not yet ready for the PL!

Did anyone on here attend the AGM tonight?

So in a 2 league system you'd have a 16 year old debutant in the same race as say Fricke, Bunyan, Aarnio or Sneddon for example. How is that fair?

1. Richie Worrall 8.64 2. Todd Kurtz 4.92 3. Rasmus Jensen 7.00 4. Tyson Nelson 6.16 5. Ricky Wells 7.81 6. Paul Starke 3.61 7. Jake Anderson 3.97 Thoughts?