Has Scott Nicholls had the operation on his shoulder he injured at end of last season yet? If not he’ll be up against it to be fit and ready for start of 2025 season.
No Lindgren for Birmingham in 2025, Musielak and Zagar 100% at Birmingham as 1 and 5, with Rew coming in a la a new addition to the side. Heard last week that Schlein is back in Premiership but on his way to Oxford
Have to look at Rowe’s 2024 average with a pinch of salt as all but two meetings he rode at number 7 as the Rising Star, whereas this season he’ll be at number 2 for at least the first two months and then reliant on either Gilkes or Flint upping their averages massively from 2024.
You could say save at Sheffield with Holder bros, well below average when it mattered in second leg. At least with Fricke he rides with his team partner and not against like seen with with Holder when racing against Howarth and not protecting him, Fricke a helluva better team player than a lot of number ones
Pickering had a good month in 2024 and that was it rest of year rode to his average of 6, he needs two point a meeting on that at least. Woffinden the main worry, if he’s not 100% come March/April we are basically carrying him, OK he might be 10/20 people through the gates but that’s not points to a team total.
Harris will only be at 6 until the first set of new green sheets are announced, no way that Klindt, Kvech or Iversen will pose as much as threat at number 6 as Harris does
Still believe having 3 reserves in Rowe, Gilkes and Flint will bite us in the arse, sometimes at home but especially away. If top four don’t get 40+ points each meeting then can see more defeats than wins making top 4 a big challenge