So, you reward his absence over the reliability of others due to potential?

Maybe because he is better than most on his average and with more chance of improvement.

TBH the points limit is pathetic considering the surplus of riders from last year with two less teams.  I also wish there were no rules that highest on the averages has to be #1.  RS & lowest average of the other 6 have to be 6 & 7. Otherwise position completely at discretion of TM... bring some craft back to it.

Why would KLS retain Ben Cook who decided he was too injured to ride for them most of 2025 despite the fact he kept riding for Leszno when NKI & Lawson are surely available?

Again nothing is going to happen there is the near future 

What happened to Ashton Boughen? I thought he was supposed to be the new big young thing.