Roger Jacobs

Interestingly, Mountain’s Owlerton average was about 0.6 higher than his away average. Hume’s Foxhall average was some 1.6 more than away. However, I hadn’t realised that Hume was stronger in the Champ, which is fascinating. To me, Hume never really looks in control, whereas Mountain seems more complete.

For me: Mountain is high above Hume, both in talent and consistency. Heeps wouldn't even make it to the list.

John Louis rated Tomasz Gollob as the most naturally talented speedway rider he had ever known, and Gollob didn't like Monmore at all. I think he won one race there, in 1998, when the Wolves were one of the few teams to beat the rampant Witches, on 20 July (47-43). It was a very rare occasion that I got quite drunk (a couple or three pints of Guinness), and managed to upset some people (a few more than usual!) - they all looked so miserable as they left the stadium, even after defeating the mighty Witches. I recall there was a BDL match between the junior Wolves and Buxton. I also was quite unwell by the time we got to Corley Services

It’s their fault for wanting a 2 or 3 point non-Brit on a 4. I can’t see how the 25% reduction can be used as a genuine MA. Hopefully, the BSPA will clarify the situation … without careful rewording of the Regs, they’re in danger of creating yet more ambiguity.

The Rising Star list: https://britishspeedway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2023-PL-Rising-Stars-1-1.pdf

The Rising Star list: https://britishspeedway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2023-PL-Rising-Stars-1-1.pdf

You're absolutely splitting hairs by saying that Rew didn't hit the fence. The kickboards are part of the fence/barrier/banana whatever word you use to describe it. He quite clearly hit a solid part of the fence with a hard thud, and bounced back - that would have caused compression injuries, and he's incredibly fortunate to not have more than cracks or minor breaks.

Lambert only happened because Fricke was injured.

Whoops! Not sure where I got that from! I thought the Aces looked rather strong, LOL!

I'm thoroughly confused about the above comments regarding Brennan - I assumed he's the RS at BV for 2023? Bewley 8.91, Kurtz 8.24, Wright 5.71, Blödorn 5.45, Lindsey 5.16, Etheridge 4.76 = 38.24 so just under the 39.00 limit. Brennan is the RS, even though he starts in the main body of the team with his 5.86 Green Sheet ... EDIT: Bagpuss has put me right on my error above ... not sure why I had Etheridge in the line-up!

I thought that Hume is no longer a Rising Star? However, Mountain, even if not an RS, must be on someone's shopping list?

They would have had to bring in a guest. I still think it was a better option for the sport overall, no matter how poorly the Regulations are written.

Yes indeed! I only realised after checking the final Prem Green Sheets, and applying King's 2.5% discount. Hume has also signed, so a definite Ipswich-style flavour, even if only one of two of them will be at Ipswich in 2023 ... And ... thanks to the discounts for British riders, the Bears come in at 39.86 ... so they've benefitted by 0.65 overall. PS: Thanks to arnieg for confirming that the averages are only for team building, not for riding order - one of many odd bits of the Regs that can easily be missed.

King announced as #1 at Redcar in the Championship. With Wright and Riss it makes a decent heat leader trio for the Bears: https://britishspeedway.co.uk/championship/bears-name-full-side/

They should call it Robin B’Stards.

The right track for him is not Ipswich.

No! Another “nice bloke”, but injury prone and not full of improvement.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/23158951.ipswich-witches-sign-keynan-rew-australian-under-21-champion/

The first comment, I disagree. Doyle's average is about 27%, and he scores that many of the Witches league race points, and is highly likely to continue his high average. The second comment is the problem that many agree with. For Doyle's class contribution to reduce percentage-wise in a winning team, it needs the others to improve ... while the usual suspects don't appear to have that improvement in them. On a related note, about the Oxford line-up: I had to smile when they said Heeps is on a bargain average ... 4.33 achieved at reserve ...

How do you know? So ... who is?

Clegg might have been riding for longer, but has never been given a proper opportunity in the Prem, so is hardly a rider of "vastly more" experience than Hume. I would say that Clegg has much more potential than Hume.

Hume isn't rising. He often overrides, is injury prone and is unlikely improve dramatically.

Hume is popular, but injury prone, and possibly not going much further at 26 …

Interesting idea - but why wait until September for the play-offs, based on a qualification in July? The riders could be different (at least because of injuries), and they'll be racing the Cup Final in the same time scale ...

LOL!