Hamish McRaker

Would having 6 teams, with no lame ducks involved, bring back the possibility of salvaging a tv deal for 2026? The recent 7 team league, aided by the points limit, seemed to create a situation where two teams were basket cases almost from the start. 6 teams with the 37 point limit will hopefully produce better equilibrium. Last season it seemed like Louis and others strong-armed their needs through at the expense of creating two lame ducks, bully for them but it created a league that was a foregone conclusion soon after it began

Or maybe in his Top Hat?🙃

Must be giving the big bombshell Douglas announcement a chance to reverberate before making any further announcements. I'm not a fan of hype, but it had all the impact of a pint of lukewarm, flat and poorly-kept beer, from both him and the club🤔

Bit of a low-key announcement, considering it's for the new number one rider!

Yes, thats what i was getting at later in my post. Presumably the name Oxford Spires couldn't be used, though?

I doubt the sanity of any such venture. Why would the Oxford Cheetahs promoters risk diluting the interest in and attendances for Cheetahs matches, soon after ending a failed experiment. Unless they don't have any influence over it, which would still make it utter madness to attempt

With Douglas being, according to some, a nailed-on certainty to be Lions' no.1, they're dragging their feet somewhat in making the announcement! KL, Sheffield, and Belle Vue (probably) have all named their no.1's, so what's holding up Leicester from doing likewise?

What happened to Ashton Boughen? I thought he was supposed to be the new big young thing.

Ffs this is getting like The Prisoner. Who is Number 5? Who is Number 6? Ipswich is Number 5! No! Ipswich is Number 6! Who is Patrick McGoohan? Who is the all-seeing Controller? Round the Boards? The Top Drawer? (or they actually the same person)? And what is the giant white bubble that comes out of the sea? Why - of course - it's Northampton, complete with Brady Kurtz at Number 1!!

Never over till the fat lady sings. She's not even on the stage yet

Has Kurtz even been provisionally announced by any side yet? Can't recall Dougie having been likewise by Leicester yet, either. Let alone being part of a full 1-7 officially ratified by the SCB

But in such a cut-throat league as the one we could have in 2026, with 5 teams and the 37 points limit, there will be a premium on riders able to increase their CMA's, even by small amounts. Fricke could increase his average, but not by much. Kurtz on the other hand could put a point or more on his, a huge advantage to whichever team he's with. Likewise Doyle, if he changes his mind about doing UK league. Could Dougie push his average up? Hope im wrong but I doubt it. Dan Thompson definitely should, Masters maybe by half a point.

World no.2. 8.97 Bargain average compared with others both above and below that?

With the other teams naming high-profile number one riders, will there be a change to Leicester's apparent team-building approach? Could there still be an Australian wearing no.1, but not the one being widely tipped?

Just calm down and take your medication, Mike. Nurse! Nurse!