waiheke1

check the stats as per my post he rode 80% as a hl

If North is not classed as a HL, there is something very very wrong with the process, given he rode over 80% of meetings as a HL last year.

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North would be a good signing on his current average, the issue is that he is one of the weaker riders in the HL category, so teams may be reluctant to "waste" a HL spot on him. He would probably make a good signing for whichever team signs Zengota, given that Zengota has an inflated average and North is on a deflated one, between the two of them their average would be about right.

You're contracting yourself a bit there Ozrik. You say there should be more places for the USA. Well, at the moment there are 13 places for nations who would be in the overseas final (5xGB, 5xAU,1 each for US, NZ and Argentina) - if you had an overseas final you'd likely add an extra place each for GB, AU and US. The nordic final (if you include Latvia) would need no change to the 16 spots currently allocated places. To make up for the three places you give to the overseas final, you would take away 2 spots from the Czechs and one from Slovenia, which you also advocated. No impact on Hungary or Holland or France or any other "minor" nation (though tbh I would give two extra places to Poland, and take another place of Szech and one off Germany).

Because they need a number one, they already have cook and nicholls to fill the other positions. Both of whom are better

I'd actually be happy enough with kk, so long as aces management are prepared to act decisively of the 2015 version shows up.

And clearly you are in the minority, as the attendances at the events twk cited show most would rather see the host nation rather than the fourth best team.

Which would be four heat leaders...

there is no vendetta. Jerran Hart has become a figurative embodiment of the utter moronicness of a certain BSF poster, in the same way that Mason Wear has become regarded as a symbol of the utter moronicness of another BSF poster. Hope that clarifies things for you John. Kind Regards, Barry Butterworth.

Ah, fair enough. He was ancient by then though. He never ride second tier til he was well past his peak at least!

Jerran Hart has probably entered bsf infamy, along with mason wear, by being the subject of one of this year's two most memorable threads. Bridger would do a great job, so long as equipment is provided and he is not expected to race against heat leaders.

I quite agree. In case Hart isn't released in time for the meeting, I'd name Mason Wear as a reserve.

I'd look at anders thomsen on a 4. Would Ben Barker be a 4.8 or does he have an el average? Actually you might have about 5.7 available. Sam masters? Milik might just fit, but he might be classed as a hl.

Would think Coventry would snap him up if he is interested in riding UK. Genuinely think batch would do a good job for you as a second hl, not as captain or number one

Is there any indication that shamek is interested? Is he a Swindon asset, as I assume he would b in hot demand.

No soup for you Bob bath! Are you master of your domain? The water was very cold Jerry! They're real, and they're spectacular! Dolores!

to get back on topic, I have to agree with the OP, Tai should be nowhere near the WC side due to his lack of enthusiasm for the national anthem. Ditto Lambert, who seems to have some germanic allegiance. Nicholls isn't interested, Bomber is past his best, Cook is nothing if he doesn't jump the starts. Forget any double uppers, as they are clearly lacking in ambition. Same goes for anyone riding in the FTR scheme. So, I think the GB side for the World Cup should be Jerran Hart, Lewis Bridger (two fine pillars of british society) Kelvin Tatum (never rode 2nd tier) and multi-national champ, um, Jason Bunyan.

hopefully Lambert will attempt to qualify in 2016, and be given one of the UK slots (for the KL round would be the obvious choice). Is the first round before or after the British final? If prior, then I assume Harris, Cook and Lambert would take three slots, on merit Kennett and King would seem next in line, though tbh I'd rather see those go to say Garrity and Newman/Howarth. Would add that I really think it would make sense to go back to a regionalised quailfying, an Overseas final, a Nordic final and two contienental semi finals, with an inter-continental final and continental final as the penultimate round. Think all meetings would be pretty evenly balanced in terms of difficulty, and wouldn't materially alter the representation each nation has.

surely that would leave only about 5 points available? 23.13 for the HL, 7.13 for the reserves (assuming 2nd reserve is a 3),Sedgeman approx a 4.7? if you get those 3 as HL, you have a good team.

Woffy plus three from Harris Lambert nicholls and cook should be competitive, given for the latter two it will likely be there home track. Çertainly comparable with the Sweden team who were world champs this year

Looking at that list, the worst value tam you could put together while getting close to the 40.5 point limit would look something like this: Zengota 7.79 Fricke 6.16 Watt 7.19 Thorsell 6.18 Nilsson 6.98 S Lambert 3.11 Morris 3.00 40.41 though tbf, Fricke may prove to be decent value, as he clearly has a fair amount of improvement in him. I'd also say that list has no HL or tier one riders. To include 3 HL (assuming this is based on meetings ridden as HL in 2015), and one 1st tier, the "worst value" team would look something like: (and I've assumed HL for riding order is based on average, not inclusion on HL list) Zengota Thorssel Kylmakorpi Wells Bjerre S Worrall Rose With Wells, Bjerre and Joonas the HL. Comes in at 40.40. worrying sign for Wolves fans !?!

and a few points on those interesting points. 1. Craven would appear similar to Gundersen, who doesn't top my statistical rankings for any season (2nd five times, 3rd twice based on my almost completed figures). Truly world class riders, who had world class rivals who were slightly more dominant across all competitions. Both Craven and Gundersen were good enough to have been world champs under a GP series (though when we discussed this, some were of the view that Craven may never have been world champ under that format), but would likely have won less world titles than they did. Both riders of course had also careers tragically cut shot prematurely. 2. Yes indeed, would never happen these days... (though actually, I have Greg at 3rd in my rankings this year, with EMil taking 2nd spot). 3. comparable perhaps to Les Collins, so nearly world champ, who I ranked at 9th in 1982. 4. Aligns with common view that Williams was the "worst" double world champion of all time. agreed Sid, I find these topics fascinating. And you're right, you pretty much always stay at of trouble on the years gone by threads! this is the type of topic where i do really appreciate Gustix input (though I haven't seen any message of Barry Butterworth yet, and this was his era

If the format reverts to a more conventional one, batch will score more without any improvement as a rider. Zengota will struggle to maintain his regardless of format. Can understand why Swindon fans want rid, but fact is batch is on a bargain average, whereas zengy is on an inflated average.

the first option is the strongest, but probably doesn't work, as AJ, Kennett, Bech and MJJ should all be on the HL list. The last option would mean only two HL. And of course Lakeside's issue the last season, was poor reserves and lack of HL. Dak North is a good signing on that average, but North and Kennett as your 2nd/3rd HL hardly inspires confidence.