DC2

Can’t see Doyle returning to us. He didn’t like it when he was left out in 2013 and spent the following years at Birmingham and Leicester. Rosco has made a mistake not retaining him. Morris would have been more understanding about having to go elsewhere for a season. Bad man management Rosco!

Why 1.3? Is that new for next year? This year it was 1.2.

Aaarrgghhh. Yes, that’s the point. Regardless of what happened this year, are you happy for him to have a Championship place next year on 8.98 or not?

Yep, sorry. It’s 3.21 x 1.2 = 3.85, unless his 2016 Somerset average is used 2.63 (or 3 as the minimum then was). One of those three ... maybe!

So, given that he’s a legend and people love watching him, would you object to him riding now on a 1.2 converted average of 8.98?

Zach 3.21 divided by 1.2

Just like appeared to happen with Eastbourne on several occasions, I suspect Chapman or Somerset said “One 8 pointer or we’re out, take it or leave it”.

Generally a difference of about 10 points, like Sheffield v Leicester, but with careful selection you could put together a team that would be closer, starting with Nick Morris at number 1.

Surely Poole can’t flop again this season? The Holders, Kurtz, Gomolski, Newman, Shanes and Woryna should all put at least a point on their averages.

Indeed.

Morris Ellis Bellego Musielak Andersen Nielsen Clegg

It’s total madness and contradicts the promoters’ frequently quoted rationale of “cost-cutting”. Obviously, it would be cheaper to allow Nicholls and Kennett to double up rather than have to fly in the likes of Riss, Bjerre, Jørgensen, Palm Toft, Lindgren and Heartel, not to mention the Aussie brigade who think we owe them a living!

Ah, Hyderd, you missed out a few stages: CVS tries to sign Woffinden on his 7.03 average but Woffinden says he wont’t ride the UK so CVS stirs up a 9 point average for GP riders and Ford adds “who didn’t ride here in 2017” so he can get Holder on 7.16!

Eh, how does a fall help Pete? . Bet he tangled his stringfellows.

...... except there isn’t really a rule book - you’d be stalked every night through the season by a shady promoter scribbling new rules on post it notes and fag packets!

So Chris Harris with a Premier League average of 7.63 and Aussie, Nick Morris with a Premier League average of 8.89 can ride in the Championship but Brit, Scott Nicholls, on 7.48 is not allowed to because the BSPA are reintroducing a rule that no PL rider above 6 without a CL average can ride in the Championship? Come on, BSPA, youre mad. Its just one stupid rule after another! Surely any Brit should be allowed to on a 1.2 conversion?

Zagar, Holder, Tai and any other GP rider should have an assessed minimum of 8 each season while a GP rider. Otherwise someone like Holder takes the pee at Kings Lynn and signs for Poole on a daft average. Allowing those riders as bargains to replace the likes of Bjerre, Thorsell or Morris on higher averages also penalises those three for riding in our league this year.

Why do so many see Troy (7.63) as a better signing than David Bellego (7.37)? David’s form may have dipped at the end of the season but mid-season he was mustard and he’s a much more professional, dedicated and team-orientated rider than Troy. Troy might finally have matured but there’s every chance of some strops that would see him drop his average whereas David only works hard to increase his.

Lots of proposed teams including Zac (3.21) but not mentioning Stefan Nielsen (3.67) who was tearing up trees in the Championship last season and has already been signed by Scunthorpe for next season. He’s better value than Zach and could be at reserve with someone like Kyle Newman.

Just seen the picture of Sarj on the BSPA site http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.33613 ......... even in that one he’s broken the tapes

Yes, it could be finances for Swindon which led them to choose Morris over Doyle, but it was the AGM decision which forced them to make a choice. So why was the rule made? It hasn’t been explained. And if promoters wish to promote the sport and keep fans on board they need to give explanations. Was it to allow all clubs to have an 8 point rider because they all want one? Was it to allow cost-cutting, because top riders demand more pay? Was it because some clubs want to sign seven 6 pointers and were worried they’d get 5-1s against them in heats 13 and 15, forgetting their advantage in heats 2 and 8? Was it thought sensible to force riders to ride for clubs that they don’t want to? Was it thought acceptable to destroy the brand loyalty that continuity gives so that Swindon and Wolves have to lose a club asset who has helped to bring back fans year after year? Was it because a club wanted someone else, anyone, rather than “whinging” Chris Holder? Was it due to envy of Swindon, Wolves and Belle Vue? Was it really well thought through? That’s what we need to know, so please tell us.

No GPS on TV either?

Nope, we could have kept Jason and Nick quite easily.

Terrible decision. Jason would have been a better signing than Nick despite his average, both to draw in bigger crowds and to guarantee more race wins at away tracks.

Not “always”, no. Jason was always second best to Chris Holder at IOW and slipped further behind at Poole, lacking the basic skill of staying on his bike. At Somerset in the lower league his gating was good enough to make him a top rider, but in the Elite League he suffered from reckless moves, too much leg-trailing and a lack of concentration. It was only at Birmingham that he tidied himself up and went from second string to number 1. I suspect then that he realised that with a bit more fitness, focus and hard work he could be a top international rider. And he did it. Similar to Tai, who was going backwards until he focused.