Crikey. Well you were talking about who would be able to afford these “top riders”. I’m not sure Fricke is cheaper than those you’ve mentioned. He certainly shouldn’t be being the best rider that currently rides here.

He might be “best” rider in the league numerically, but he isn’t what I would describe as ‘speedway superstar’ compared to Bewley, Kurtz, Doyle, Sayfutdinov, Woffinden and Holder. 

You’ve missed out Leicester. Unless you don’t think the best rider in the league is a “top rider”.

Scott  will be pushing 48 yrs old by the time the next season starts ,thought he would of had a final season at Oxford ( he had said he would finish there in the past ) so maybe wants to break the half century as  a rider !

Then the sport in general is doomed.

You can understand if the teams with "top level riders" are reluctant to part with them... Their rents won't drop yet their admission costs will need to, to reflect the significant drop in standard of the riders on view, and crowds wont increase to cover the reduction in admission charge, riders costs may drop but would crowds match the ones delivered with the top riders there?  Sponsors also may only want to be involved with the "top riders" and could either pull their money completely or reduce it due to, again, the drop in levels.. So many teams need so many different scenarios... A proper self inflicted cluster eff...