ouch

If you have 4 & 5 point riders at reserve with the top rider taking one of the lower reserves rides you get, if they rider to their average 9.25 (6.25 + 3) If you have 2 & 7 point riders at reserve with the top rider taking one of the lower reserves rides you get, if they rider to their average 10.25 (8.75+ 1.50) I dont think clubs would spend 9 points at reserve but whatever the figures the maths show a two pointer is the way to go.

I remember that last time we did grading, Lindback (Poole) was low and Harris (Coventry) was high, even though they were the same. Any system we adopt will not work satisfactorily as some of the people involved are bent. £££££ makes points, or hollow championships.

There has to be a dark art to averages as it not only allows the in crowd to gain an advantage but it can stop a team outside the inner circle from potentially winning. Current system will stay whilst UK speedway continues its demise.

Waiting till December. Is he softening in his old age?

🎣

Who are the 7 GP riders?

He completed 11. More than 9 but still not many out of 28! Shame rolling averages ended but Im sure they served their purpose (for some) when they were in place.

Didnt Holder only complete 9 league meetings for the stars, out of 28? If he aint reassessed then its bent. Going off previous, he wont be reassessed. If a sport is bent, why bother?

Was this made public prior to the rewrite via social media or in the press?

Whatever the reasons, good or bad about this decision, once again its the timing that stinks and just howls of petty self interest. When the Agm decisions where announced, specifically the 1 over 8 why wasnt the GP 9 point rule announced at the same time? There had been lots of tweets from the top lads saying they werent interested in a UK ride or they had signed up for foreign leagues with the spectre of the Polish ruling hanging over them, so why would you give it any thought. Then Zagar tweets about wanting to return. Think where he was likely to go and you get the sole reason for this hasty rewrite

Explaining why a rider finishing second scores more than the race winner is a lot harder than a mere (tactical) substitution. Most people are familiar with football and their regular use of it when removing a tired/underperforming team man with one more capable of contributing.

It wouldnt be the first time a reserve signed on an attractively low average has had it raised following a late rule change. We signed Jason Lyons on a low average gained during his time at Poole. He was joined at reserve by local lad Ricky Ashworth. The rule was changed so we had to use Jasons second division average, which was higher and meant we couldnt fit Ricky in who ended up at Poole. I think they wanted to clamp down on riders gaining a low average whilst at another track before returning to their parent track. A couple of years later we had similar foresight when signing an ex Ace who had missed the top division to concentrate on tier two. Unfortunately there was a clamp down on riders using their lower division two average when resigning for the former club and he had to use his last division one average. It amazes me when fans complain about the lacklustre nature of the powers that be. As an Aces fan Ive seen them clamp down on things in a regular basis.

Fact time! You just stated an opinion.

I love to know what a Belle Vue fan would have to be jealous of with regards to Poole, currently or historically?

You have to have little to no knowledge of the sport to not realise why Ford is disliked and its certainly not for the success of his team.

Liam has jacked it in sadly.

I know of one.

The low points limit was this year in response to The Aces finishing top the year before.

Whats happened in just over twelve months that sees Tais average go from 7 to 9? Makes his inclusion last year and the subsequent cup win seem farcical.

Its good to see the bosses finally clamping down on these low average ringers. I remember when the clamped down on clubs willy nilly calling meetings off with a high profile fine and point deduction. I think we all got fed up of top league riders picking and choosing meetings, so to see them clamp down on this by banning a rider for subsequent meetings was welcomed by all. LOL

When Poole, Wolves or whoever sign these low average ringers the statement constantly trotted out is anyone could sign them, you just need a switched on promoter. At least thats been laid to rest now as its obvious if it wasnt already that its the old boys network that allow some teams to gain an advantage and what turn out to be hollow victorys.

All those arguments about why Tai should keep his low average last year seem to have evaporated now.

Tbh I thought the rule would be a 1.07 multiplier taking Zagar from 7.48 to 8.00 so at least with the 9 assessment it bundles some other riders in and doesnt look as obvious. Sorry to those guys for getting dragged into the Belle Vue bashing.

They wont let The Aces benefit from Zagars average. A rule WILL be put in place to stop it. Some things never change.

The problem for Swindon going top heavy at the start meant they couldnt make changes until their lowered average kicked in. This left them with only eight fixtures before the cup meetings in September. The fans werent interested in the losing team and it took a few meetings for people to realise they were contenders after strengthening up. Though it often brings silverware it can be a dangerous approach as early to mid season crowds are low.