But he was generally a strong rider in heat 14, Kerr was too inconsistent to ride at 5. Rowe was good early to mid-season but injury to groin hindered him for latter part of season.

I don’t get this narrative at all I’m sorry. I would absolutely have LOVED to see Hans Nielsen and Erik Gundersen visit Foxhall on a regular basis.    All about opinions isn’t it? Me personally, would much MUCH  prefer to see Kurtz and Bewley visit with Belle Vue several times a year, than watch the splendid “variety” of top tier talent like Tobias Thomsen, Jake Allen and Palovaara sparingly.    The anticipation of seeing that array of talent that you don’t often see must be absolutely mouth watering.    So jealous of the championship 😞

But if you have a stronger #1 you can't retain the strength in depth, that's the nature of team building under a points limit.

everyone's got to cut their cloth accordingly, to survive today, but speedway isn't.

Well I would think they would have to include the matches as the SCB rules state that the league and BSN series matches count towards the match averages.

Again spot on Ben when I went in the mid 80's to early 90's every team brought a superstar some like Cradley a team packed with stars and as you said you got to see the Gundersons & Nielson's once or twice a year unlike now where its 3-4 sometimes 5 times with play off's. As a lot of people have also commentated play off's are money spinners but equally mean some will pick and choose meetings more, that plus way more to do leisure wise these days than mid 80's and cost of living hasn't helped, I work in finance and estimate prices since 2020 and a minimum 25% higher over five years.