Ben91

I hope Priest and Halsey are not even in the thoughts of the promotion, both have had chances at second tier Speedway and not cut the mustard. I doubt either would do a job in the Championship next year, let alone the Premiership. Zach Wajknecht or Ellis Perks would be the best bets for using up the points available, I'd lean towards Wajknecht as he could be made an asset now Lakeside have stepped out of the top division. It all really depends on if one of those two could do better than a Hume, JPB or Bacon across a season. Of the riders that would start on a two point average my choice would be Hume. I guess it depends on how his relationship is with the promotion after his last minute departure from the Raiders side and the Rye House asset base in 2016.

His average in meetings for the Rockets was over six. Have to take in to account that includes guest appearances and that his final greensheets figure is a rolling average including meetings from 2015 when he was at Edinburgh.

Pleased with the signing of Branford, plenty of potential and there's plenty of experience in the pits for him to soak up. He's on a reasonable starting average, was averaging over six last year in the PL, and I'd expect him to at least maintain his starting figure given the slight step up in standard of opposition. If he gets a Championship spot too I can see him coming on leaps and bounds in 2017. Obviously this means no Ben Morley, hopefully he'll get fixed up in the Championship, on his average he should be a wanted man. It'll be interesting to see his progression and if he can stake a claim for a reserve berth with the Rockets in 2018.

It doesn't fit, if we have to have one then it'd be Branford all day long. Priest is a career NL rider, he's been around for a long time and had plenty of cracks at the PL without making an impression, would be a poor signing in the top division. He's a good rider but there are a lot of better prospects out there that are the same age/younger.

He's been around for about 13 years now and people still can't spell his name. Boxall, no H.

How many meetings did he do for the Warriors? Can't imagine it was that many.

Particularly as he has a PL figure from 2013. He first rode over here in 2008 (on an assessed average as an Australian) and hasn't made the grade nine seasons later, no way should he be taking a number seven slot next year. No issue with Edinburgh using him by any means but it shouldn't be as their mandatory British reserve.

Interesting that Davey's name is being mentioned again, and as the British number seven at that too. Good to see young/inexperienced British riders getting a chance again.

That's because they know how to build winning sides year after year, there's no place for sentiment or loyalty if you want to be consistently successful.

Good start for Coventry, if the Kerr rumours are true I think it'd be crazy for Lynn to let him go elsewhere on that average.

Had a spell at Coventry when he first started riding Speedway, from the same neck of the woods as Bomber I believe and also a talent on the grasstrack. A lot of connections there, however he isn't very good around Rye House and has stated his dislike of the track in the past. Like Bomber he relies on passing a lot, would probably be wise to get a two pointer in who can pop out of the gate from time to time if we are going down that route.

So should Swindon's second heatleader get injured mid-meeting, Doyle can't take a ride. Interesting to know.

Not got a clue on that one, would expect it is like R/R that is in place from the start of a meeting though, one rider above the injured riders average and everyone else below. One of the reasons strong reserves are still needed, if we have a meeting where Robbo withdraws and Davey's having an off night we'd be up a creek if the reserves are bobbins.

Not seen it announced, I'd suspect the only time a rider in the top five can replace another rider is if in-meeting R/R is needed due to an injury. So the only time you'd be seeing Doyle take six rides is if R/R is in operation, be it from the start of a meeting or during one.

Kirby's average is over three, means it's a figure he's actually achieved, Cupitt's is an assessed three because he couldn't reach or better a three point average. Don't rate either personally.

That's what happens when the early bird comes in way below the points limit.

I'm sure in the past riders have been rounded up when their averages have been converted, regardless of the third decimal place being below five. Can't see it anywhere in the rulebook to confirm it either way. Logic and Speedway rarely go hand-in-hand after all, so it wouldn't surprise me if it changed on a case by case basis! Let's hope so.

Where's that written down? Kennett and Robbo have plenty of experience of riding with each other. Nicholls being able to gate makes him a better option to go out with the reserves which leaves Watt/Harris at 3 and 4, would have Bomber at 4 though, bit stronger in heat 14.

No, we want to score some points at reserve.

He's very good round Rye, it makes perfect sense, He does reasonably well around most of the former EL tracks too and he's a Rye House asset.

I wouldn't say that. It will be one of the strongest top fives once all are announced I'd imagine still, it'll do the business at home and shouldn't be embarrassed away either. Reserves are key though. All averages are rounded up. Branford was averaging six plus in the PL last year, no issues with him signing but whoever is his partner would be very weak as his 4.6 average is awkward to accommodate and sign a three pointer who would actually be worth that figure. If Klindt hasn't fallen out with the promotion after last winter I'd go with him, Manzares is no better than Branford.

I don't get this obsession with Cuppitt, he must have been around for what, three years now? And he's probably only scored double figures in one or two meetings probably.

Jake Knight has had more breaks than Jimmy White I think.

That team looks pretty solid tbh. The Worralls are heatleaders as far as the Premiership goes, this isn't the EL anymore. Look at Swindon, they're likely to have Ellis/Bellego as one of their heatleaders and top second string. Their lower order will be similar to one containing Jacobs, Bewley and Williamson too. Personally think your team will be Cook, Fricke, Worrall, Worrall, Jacobs, Bewley, Williamson.

Of the number one riders announced so far only Doyle is head and shoulders a over any of our riders and his average is four points more expensive, not worth it for what you sacrifice in the lower order. Lindgren and Andersen can certainly be beaten by Harris, Nicholls and Eddie in big heats, so talk of us being weak at the business end of meetings is codswallop as far as I'm concerned. Branford's signing is very important in my opinion, he was averaging six plus in the PL last year but comes in on a 4.6 average. I'm not sure who we'd go for as his partner though, a JPB/Hume/Smith would see us a point under the limit overall.