I would say the answer to the two questions are the same.Money,fans and pride.

Totally agree. Ive said elsewhere that it’s the rules & lack of credibility that does more harm to the sport than the racing. The racing is just as good now as I’ve witnessed in the last 35 years however it is much faster.    I’ve also watched plenty of highlights on you tube from the golden years of the 70s & 80s & it certainly wasn’t any better. As with any sport if you have a competition that people want to watch so atmosphere is generated & businesses are willing to invest the actual visual product plays second fiddle. 

You see I don’t get this argument and I never have. When doubling up, you’re not riding for two teams that are in direct competition with each other are you? They’re in completely different leagues. Going by this reasoning, riders shouldn’t be riding for another club in Poland, Sweden or Denmark either? What is the difference? Chris Harris for example rides for Kings Lynn and Glasgow. Kings Lynn and Glasgow are not rivals/competitors because they ride in completely different Leagues. What’s the issue? Guests are far worse because you’re borrowing riders from a direct rival you’re competing against. 

And guesting has become the all too easy go to solution for missing riders... You don't need to develop riders to a certain level when you just share around the ones already riding at that level on an ad hoc basis... A "troupe" of usually the same riders earn more money, and clubs can even improve their teams by using them.. Everyone (short term at least), is happy... Long term? With Brexit also now also impacting visa's, a lot of challenges ahead as an ever ageing "mid level" rider base will inevitably one day wind down their careers.. 

I was hugely critical of Kye Thomson at the start of the season as I felt we weren’t getting enough from him. He’s been brilliant in the second half of the season - real aggression and speed in his racing. He’d be the first rider I’d have back next season. Great to see and made me eat my words. 

It felt in hindsight a waste of Sedgmen on r/r but highlight is 20/20