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So then your number 2 loses out on a race? The only way to have an extra reserves race is to adjust the whole meeting template, you can't just change one race. One way of doing that would be the old 18 heat formula, 8 riders per team, and 2 reserves races. Also, it makes the assumption that all reserves are 3 pointers/No number 2's are 3 pointers. What happens at, for example, Stoke. If we sign a couple of good 3 pointers as 6 and 7, and they both improve to 4, along with Ben Reade, we could have our two 4 point reserves going up against two 3 pointers twice in a meeting.

Patriality allows you to get a passport, but you can't claim it until you are 16 IIRC. Just because you have patriality, doesn't mean you have to apply for a passport.

It is very odd, but someone like Cameron Heeps,for example,would have come in on a 5, but had he applied for and got a British passport,that becomes a 3.

No, but there is very little difference between the 2. It really just stops riders under 16 coming in...

Hopefully you are coming to Stoke!

I notice in the speedway star that they pushed through a rule about new riders in the league. Those with patriality only now come in on a 5, but those with a British passport come in on a 3...

Maybe he is on to replace Ben because Birmingham have realised they can't get another double-upper? (I in no way know if that is true, just playing Devil's advocate)

Stoke's and Mildenhall's websites have both got press releases with bits of info. Stoke also have one of the u21 qualifiers.

Various teams have put out info. Stuff we know: 8 teams. Separate "mini-league" trophy for stand alone teams (Not including Dudley though, so Stoke, Mildenhall, IoW and Buxton) Stoke v Scunthorpe in KoC Mildenhall v KL Mildenhall contest the NL shield with Dudley Pairs at Mildenhall 4's at Stoke

Aye, the race for second behind us will be a close one

This is true, you aren't in Staffordshire, but given that you won't be winning the cup anyway, it's not so much of an issue

Why not have an actual New Zealander? Ricky Wells is the best New Zealand rider at the moment, but alas, they decided to go for a Brit who likes riding out there. Their choice. I would laugh a lot if Bunyan managed to beat one of the established riders!

With only the 8 teams we currently have: 7 home/7 away league meetings. Any tracks wanting to can enter an NL trophy competition. Let's assume that's only the stand alone clubs, thats 5. 4 more Home and away for those teams. 2 legged final for the top 2. Qualifying round robin for the 4's. North and South(Ish) groups. Group 1: Buxton, Dudley, Scunny and Stoke. Group 2: Rye, IoW, Mildenhall and KL. 3 more home meetings each. Final to be held at any track (preferably Stoke ) KoC for all teams. A track sharing club could have as few as 9 meetings, or as many as 11. The stand alone clubs would have a minimum of 13. Potentially 16. That's without challenge meetings etc. I would also propose a staggered system to the British Championships, involving all NL riders who want to ride in it (Assume everyone. So that's 56 (7 x 8) Would need another 8 to make 4 rounds of 16. Those meetings to be held on NL only tracks. Top 8 from each round go into the next stage against the 31 British PL riders (Would need an extra rider, so either top 9th place finisher or a race off) Given virtually equal numbers, that means 8 PL and 8 NL riders in each meeting (4 meetings of 16). 11 EL Brits, so 21 needed from the 4 PL rounds. top 5 from each and best 6th place. 2 Semi's and a final. I know that seemed long winded, apologies.

Or even the start? End of the year is generally reserved for play-offs, but run this at the beginning of the year, then move into the league in around May time.

Or, have the 8 teams in the league, and do a seperate trophy competition for the 5 stand alone teams? Added to the KoC, that means stand alone teams get 12 meetings minimum.

It's in the SS today, but I haven't got it to hand. Off the top of my head, it's later this month.

They had a pre-agm meeting where most things were discussed. I think the AGM is just finalising a few things? Either that, or, unlike the EL, the NL is capable of applying rules for more than 1 year in advance, meaning more stability.

Heeps will no doubt be the top rider in the league. Everyone who was above him has, pretty much, left the league! But, even given his talent, I can't see him pushing much more than 10, remember Lambert last season was phenomenal, and even he ended below 10! Blackbird has the potential to improve a bit more, needs to sort out some of his away scores. But then Mildenhall have 3 riders who were at reserve for part (If not all) of last season, and one of these needs to step up and be the third heat leader. It is that or go for 3-3's with your middle order, a dangerous tactic when you come up against teams with a strong top end. Therefore, it depends who they get as the final 2 riders. Get 2 guys capable of increasing and they have a chance of doing well, but that part of the team will be vital (In the same way that Stoke are scratching around for 3 pointers, and if one comes good, then we could be in for a very good season. It's not how you start team building, but how you end it!)

Mildenhall's team, thus far at least, seems an interesting one. I can't see Heeps putting much more on his average, Blackbird could potentially add half a point to a point, but I can't see much improvement from Nielsen, Halsey and Jacobs, primarily because they all spent a spell at reserve last season, boosting their averages. Maybe a point between them. Leaves a lot of pressure on the last 2 signings.

While I agree in principle, I personally don't care which rider is riding where. All I want is to be entertained and whatever rules are put in place,good or bad, are followed consistently. Oh,and Stoke to win the title please ;]

Written small so that I can't dispute it (Yes, that was a joke!) No idea. I tend not to believe everything I read. To try and claim that one visa covers something else is ridiculous! Especially when it seems that it's the wrong visa to begin with!

Nope. They say he had a settlement visa, which covers people who have lived in the UK for a number of years, and want to make it permanent. To get an ancestry visa (based on patriality) you need to be 17. That is the only visa that covers patriality..

Close...Ricky joined Stoke on an assessed 6, with Stichaeur joining on an assessed 7, though goven Sitera's average,who knows.

Would lve to see Brendan Fremantle at reserve with Reade, that would leave around 3.26 for the final rider. No idea who s around on that!

Tony Atkin to Stoke on a 7.84