Gazc 7,098 Posted March 26, 2022 1 hour ago, Fromafar said: Your 1 place out with Edinburgh That’s as low as I could go unfortunately . 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds85 700 Posted March 27, 2022 (edited) Well I've waited and waited to do my Championship predictions, waiting for 11 full 1-7s and it's the end of March and it's still yet to happen. So I am just going to go ahead and do it now anyway, sick of waiting!! 1. Leicester - In my opinion the team that looks the strongest for a full season. Easily unbeatable at home with home specialists throughout the team and the second strongest heat leader trio in the league, particularly at home. Connor and the Thompson twins also know Beaumont Park like the back of their hands and Anders will only get better I'm sure, he's a good prospect down at reserve. I think over the course of the full season they will be the strongest team and will take some beating. 2. Glasgow - Have a solid team through 1 to 7, have decent enough reserves and a very good number 1. Ben Basso and Ulrich should provide endless amount of entertainment and Broc is a very decent number 2 alongside Cookie. Don't think they're quite as strong as Leicester, but they will probably go unbeaten at home and get many points on the road also. 3. Poole - THE strongest heat leader trio bar none in the league, the only thing that lets them down is their second strings might struggle on the road, they're not the strongest and don't have the most experience of other tracks. Nathan Ablitt is also a bit of a question mark for me, I think he should do alright at home on a track he's riding week in week out, but away on tracks like Shielfield and Brough, he may struggle, is it a year too early for him? Time will tell. Poole however are my favourites for the end of season tournament we all refer to as the playoffs (vs Leicester). 4. Redcar - Very solid heat leader trio and two decent second strings, I was gutted when Adam didn't resign with my beloved Diamonds. Kasper Andersen will surprise a few this season I think and the two lads at reserve, particularly Jordan, should fly at home this season. I predict a very good season for the Bears this year and I wish them all the luck in the world, being our nearest and dearest, should comfortably make the playoffs imo and all four of the top 4 I have named are a class above everyone else. 5. Oxford - Have named a solid enough team for their return season, Scotty and Troy should be able to beat anyone in this league and provide all the experience needed for the younger riders in the team. Kyle and Cameron is a decent 3/4 partnership and I am interested to see how Jack Thomas kicks on this year after coming on so well last year. Josh MacDonald and Dillon Ruml is also an impressive reserve partnership, I think Oxford should make the playoffs this year. 6. Plymouth - Quite hard to tell without them having a complete septet however, based on the six they have named so far if they can add even an average rider as their final rider they should be a pretty strong outfit. I think Dan Gilkes and Henry Atkins will be 2 of the most overlooked reserves in the league this season and I feel they will both be pushing for a position in the 1-5 (oh well, just means Alfie Bowtell at reserve instead!!) Ben Barker and MPT will provide years of experience and plenty entertainment and Hans should be a solid enough number 1. I expect Plymouth to be the underrated dark horses of the league this year. Would love to see young Ben Trigger getting a couple opportunities at reserve if the chance arises also, think he's one of Britain's biggest talents coming through and looked just as good, if not better, than Henry at the P&P already. 7. Berwick - Yes yes, Jye and Kyle is the best reserve partnership in the league as every Berwick fan likes to keep reminding me and I do agree. However, they do have a couple of ageing riders and a couple who have a lot to make up for after disappointing season last year. Ricky Wells is not a number 5 and whoever the hell Chris Allen is?? He's not a number 1 either In all seriousness, other than Leon and Chris (Harris ) all the 1-5 need a downgrade in the team really (Ricky 5 --> 3, Theo 3 --> 4, Ty 4 --> 2 etc...) Berwick look ok, and maybe they will push for the playoffs, but I don't see them quite making them. 8. Edinburgh - Another brilliant top 2 by the Monarchs, Sam Masters and Josh Pickering is brilliant for this league. Joshie Pickering is probably the most entertaining rider in the league. However beyond this, the Monarchs offer very little for me. There will be a lot of pressure on Kye and Paco to help along the team, taking pressure off the 2 new lads (Lasse and Jacob) and heaven forbid either of them two turn out to be terrible for this level, Edinburgh could find themselves even further down the table imo. Sam and Josh basically need to go unbeaten in even meeting just to take pressure of the incredibly long tail that Edinburgh have almost become famous for. I do generally like the Monarchs, so I hope I'm wrong. 9. Scunthorpe - Scunthorpe have gone for a very familiar team, they've got decent reserves and Ryan Douglas should be a brilliant number 1. Hopefully Jordan Palin can carry on how he finished last year, another pretty average team for the Scorpions who do admittedly have the potential to finish higher if all the riders click. 10. Birmingham - Pretty bad looking side by the Brummies, although who can blame them due to their circumstances, it could have been an awful lot worse for them. There's a lot of pressure on Ashley and James (Shanes) to perform as second strings most of the year, although I feel Stefan will probably want one of they spaces sooner rather than later. James Pearson looks like a good prospect, but there should hopefully not be too much pressure on him while he finds his feet over here. Adam Ellis and Claus Vissing is a very good top 2 considering what it could have been at one point. All of this being said however, I don't see them finishing any better off than the teams above them in this list. 11. Newcastle - I'll always be as positive as possible and as optimistic as I can be about my Newcastle Diamonds, however in this list I have tried to be as honest as I can be. We are so far under the limit once again and our team is pretty disappointing tbh. Yes, we have had some difficult situations over the winter and I am as delighted as anyone about actually having a team to support again when it wasn't looking likely at one point, however we haven't constructed a team as good as we could have done imo and for that reason, I see the same situation planning out next winter too. I'm sorry but BWD as number 1 doesn't impress me at all. Positive point about the team however is James, Matty and Max are always pretty decent value for money at home and Paul Starke is a solid rider also (yet not really a number 5) Will be interesting to see how Lee Complin returns, he should be fairly entertaining and hopefully George can ride well at reserve, although early signs at Redcar don't look as promising as I thought they could be. I predict another bottom of the table finish unfortunately I seriously hope I'm wrong... I have tried to be as open and honest as I could be with this list, please let me know what yous think, what yous agree/disagree with. Will be an interesting discussion Thanks for reading my post, the length of which @TotallyHonestJohn would be proud of. Edited March 27, 2022 by Diamonds85 12 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
allthegearbutnaeidea 1,735 Posted March 28, 2022 Glasgow Poole Oxford Leicester Redcar Berwick Plymouth Scunthorpe Edinburgh Birmingham Newcastle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ruffdiamond 6,115 Posted March 28, 2022 1 hour ago, allthegearbutnaeidea said: Glasgow Poole Oxford Leicester Redcar Berwick Plymouth Scunthorpe Edinburgh Birmingham Newcastle Surprised you didn't put Newcastle on another page? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Justgotmecpc 1,059 Posted March 28, 2022 1 hour ago, ruffdiamond said: Surprised you didn't put Newcastle on another page? Or a rock bottom sign above us !! Hopefully we can prove all doubters wrong Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eric i 620 Posted March 31, 2022 Glasgow Poole Leicester Redcar Scunthorpe Plymouth Berwick Edinburgh Oxford Birmingham Newcastle I think some people are overestimating Oxford and Berwick and underestimating Scunthorpe and Plymouth. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Shovlar 10,439 Posted March 31, 2022 Can’t see past us Pirates making it another title to be honest. Of course injuries can change that but we have very strong heatleaders, Ben and Zack Cook backing them up and Drew Kemp at reserve. Very strong at home and will never get thrashed, meaning bonus points galore. Young Ablitt isn’t expected to score big, just pick up a few points at home, and will get three rides away. Leicester and Glasgow the main rivals. Just think we will have too much for them again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,637 Posted March 31, 2022 8 minutes ago, Steve Shovlar said: Can’t see past us Pirates making it another title to be honest. Of course injuries can change that but we have very strong heatleaders, Ben and Zack Cook backing them up and Drew Kemp at reserve. Very strong at home and will never get thrashed, meaning bonus points galore. Young Ablitt isn’t expected to score big, just pick up a few points at home, and will get three rides away. Leicester and Glasgow the main rivals. Just think we will have too much for them again. Bonus points? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eric i 620 Posted March 31, 2022 10 minutes ago, Steve Shovlar said: Can’t see past us Pirates making it another title to be honest. Of course injuries can change that but we have very strong heatleaders, Ben and Zack Cook backing them up and Drew Kemp at reserve. Very strong at home and will never get thrashed, meaning bonus points galore. Young Ablitt isn’t expected to score big, just pick up a few points at home, and will get three rides away. Leicester and Glasgow the main rivals. Just think we will have too much for them again. I would agree as long as Poole can get Drew Kemp to fulfil his potential, i.e sort out his equipment/head. If Drew doesn't progress Poole will struggle to win the league with two poor reserves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazc 7,098 Posted March 31, 2022 25 minutes ago, Steve Shovlar said: Can’t see past us Pirates making it another title to be honest. Of course injuries can change that but we have very strong heatleaders, Ben and Zack Cook backing them up and Drew Kemp at reserve. Very strong at home and will never get thrashed, meaning bonus points galore. Young Ablitt isn’t expected to score big, just pick up a few points at home, and will get three rides away. Leicester and Glasgow the main rivals. Just think we will have too much for them again. I have now amended my prediction. Glasgow Redcar Leicester Berwick Oxford Scunthorpe Birmingham Plymouth Newcastle Edinburgh Poole 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,375 Posted March 31, 2022 10 minutes ago, Gazc said: I have now amended my prediction. Glasgow Redcar Leicester Berwick Oxford Scunthorpe Birmingham Plymouth Newcastle Edinburgh Poole Monarchs fans are welcoming this amendment. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazc 7,098 Posted March 31, 2022 (edited) 42 minutes ago, Fromafar said: Monarchs fans are welcoming this amendment. They can thank Shovlar they have been promoted to 2nd bottom. Edited March 31, 2022 by Gazc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisa-colette 6,035 Posted March 31, 2022 5 minutes ago, Gazc said: They can thank Shovlar that they have been promoted to 2nd bottom. Trouble is if Steve says Poole won't do well he gets moaned at by oppo fans for pretending they aren't good, if he says Poole will do well people don't like that either!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewy 2,326 Posted March 31, 2022 1 minute ago, lisa-colette said: Trouble is if Steve says Poole won't do well he gets moaned at by oppo fans for pretending they aren't good, if he says Poole will do well people don't like that either!! Could it just be that people think he talks crap 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazc 7,098 Posted March 31, 2022 2 minutes ago, lisa-colette said: Trouble is if Steve says Poole won't do well he gets moaned at by oppo fans for pretending they aren't good, if he says Poole will do well people don't like that either!! This a wooosh moment lisa. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
