SGB Championship - 2025 Predictions

[szkocjasid]

13 hours ago, Jaizer said:

Redcar and Glasgow best looking sides imo, Poole will make changes even if cairns isn't sufficient so will make play offs. Berwick and Workington will depend on their no.1's moods, Edinburgh too many questions be fighting wooden spoon unless polis drops 2 points and can strengthen when gets his 4 points. Scunny don't look very strong to me but will win most home meetings, Plymouth also be dependent how their number 1 goes. Oxford current 1-7 doesn't make play offs imo, depends what changes can make to accommodate Nichols. 

So quite a few unanswered questions makes predictions difficult at this stage!!

Bit strange to say Edinburgh will struggle unless one of their new signings drops his average lol!

Assuming you're meaning if he drops to 4.00, allows a change, then gets back to his starting 6.00 average?

Otherwise how would one rider dropping points to be gained by another strengthen the team?

Mind you, if he can average 8.00, that's the 2 point advantage without the need for another change.

[Spiderman1]

59 minutes ago, foreverblue said:

Scunny look a poor team to me, not sure they will win too many at home either 

Any team with so many ausies will do well in my opinion 

[szkocjasid]

59 minutes ago, foreverblue said:

Scunny look a poor team to me, not sure they will win too many at home either 

Quite a few don't rate Scunthorpe, but I think they a decent looking side. I'm expecting big things from Zaine Kennedy, pushing Luke Harrison back to reserve, where he should then add to his average.

So if Declan Kennedy can simply keep his assessed average, then they'll have one of the strongest reserve pairings in the league.

Might not be great away, but the top 4 are all capable of winning multiple races at home.

[Bagpuss]

Glasgow

Poole

Redcar

Scunthorpe

Oxford

Workington

Berwick

Edinburgh

Plymouth

[SCS]

1. REDCAR (A match for Glasgows top 5, but we got better reserves)

2. GLASGOW (Weak reserves. Top 5 got to stay injury free)

3. WORKINGTON (Loads of potential)

4. POOLE (Rowe a great signing. Much will depend on Kerr and how Cairns adapts to CL Racing)

5. BERWICK (Will depend on keeping Cookie on track for a full season and Kildermand scores the big points they are expecting)

6. OXFORD (Team changes will be made)

7. SCUNTHORPE (A lot depends on the Kennedys and if Worrall wears his gating gloves)

8. EDINBURGH (Pressure on Paco and Sedgeman and just hope the new pole has seen the Edinburgh track? He should be ok away)

9. PLYMOUTH (At least they are starting with a No.1, but will they finish the season with him)

[foreverblue]

15 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

Quite a few don't rate Scunthorpe, but I think they a decent looking side. I'm expecting big things from Zaine Kennedy, pushing Luke Harrison back to reserve, where he should then add to his average.

So if Declan Kennedy can simply keep his assessed average, then they'll have one of the strongest reserve pairings in the league.

Might not be great away, but the top 4 are all capable of winning multiple races at home.

Zaine and Declan Kennedy are poor signings, Simon Lambert had a poor season, Harrison is a good reserve but overall a poor team, can't see them making the play offs.

[szkocjasid]

Poole: clearly not a strong as last year, could struggle at reserve till Cairns signs, still expect them to make the top 4, with Rowe a big improver.

Oxford: I really think they've got lots of potential in the reserve berths, which could see Gilkes & Knudsen ending up their, which is a power packed bottom end. Obvious problem is 2nd & 3rd heat leaders, but bottom end could cover that, play-offs contenders.

Scunthorpe: as I said above see improvement from ZK, so expect a strong reserve pairing & plenty of home wins. Not favourites for a top 4 spot, but in contention.

Workington: far better reserves than last year, top 3 awesome at home. If Zischke & Vuolas can improve their away from, great chance of a top 4 spot. Also a big season for Bowes & Etheridge, if they can do enough to keep Foord & Hook at reserve, looks very solid.

Glasgow: Must be the best top 5 in the league, but also the weakest reserve pairing by far. Dan T, Howarth (if he's at 3) should be pushing 8 point averages. Flint & Boughen should be putting a point on their averages. Just becomes a question of can they win the league with 5 riders scoring the baulk of the points?

Redcar: best heat leader trio by far, King should add something to his average (if at 3). Really impressed by Jason Edwards, so an awesome top 4 in truth. Question marks over the bottom 3, Mulford has been a slow improver, but now in the top 5, think it could be a struggle for him to maintain his average. Reserves only slightly better than Glasgow's. The top 4 makes it look at play-offs side though.

Edinburgh: lacking a top rider, but have a very solid 1-6 & the best 2 pointer imo. Not favourites, but see no reason why they can't mount a play-off challenge.

Plymouth: look the weakest team so far, Klindt's average will drop, but he's a good number one. Even weaker heat leaders than Oxford. Fredriksen should do well, which could leave Bowtell as a potent reserve.  But this looks a wooden spoon side to me.

Berwick: much better looking team than in recent years, looks a strong top 2, Kemp looked good at the end of last year & should carry on that improvement. Borke is tough to call, was very good at number 7, but now starts in the top 5 after coming back from a serious injury. Whoever is at reserve with Wood should do well there though.

There's not a lot between the teams so tough to pick a finishing order, probably say:

Redcar & Glasgow top 2.

Poole bound to make the top 4, they always do.

Maybe Oxford, Workington & Berwick favourites for 4th.

Scunthorpe, Edinburgh in with a chance.

Plymouth rank outsiders.

[szkocjasid]

1 hour ago, foreverblue said:

Zaine and Declan Kennedy are poor signings, Simon Lambert had a poor season, Harrison is a good reserve but overall a poor team, can't see them making the play offs.

Probably agree they won't make the play-offs, not that I think they're a bad team (be a boring forum if we all agreed lol).

I could see them finishing 8th, but only a couple of points off 4th, think it could be that close.

Edited 13 hours ago by szkocjasid

[scunny1]

35 minutes ago, Spiderman1 said:

Any team with so many ausies will do well in my opinion 

Err, Scorpions have 3 Aussies😕

[Fromafar]

Redcar,Poole and Glasgow + 1. from the rest for Play Offs.

[szkocjasid]

1 hour ago, Fromafar said:

Redcar,Poole and Glasgow + 1. from the rest for Play Offs.

Exclude Plymouth & that's a very good prediction

[szkocjasid]

1 hour ago, Spiderman1 said:

Any team with so many Aussies will do well in my opinion 

 

1 hour ago, scunny1 said:

Err, Scorpions have 3 Aussies😕

What point are you making as Spiderman1 rates Scunthorpe to do well?