gazzac

Sorry Dandelion, my sarcasm with the bspa has got lost in text again, it was really a knock at the Paul Hurry assessment . Would love Jake back but am pretty sure it won't happen.

I think as Jake has not riden since last year it's only fair he should come back on his 2016 starting average of 6.00 so he could slot back into the team ok. Think that would be allowed by the bspa under the same rule as Paul Hurry's assessed one!!!

Don't think anyone understands how they did it within the rules and recent precedents!

If as it appears then we're with the team we have, Dugard and Bates look to go to reserve which will hopefully give Kelsey a confidence boost, and we mustn't forget all the big hitting reserves like Jenkins etc will be in the main body like Tom, so our 2 reserves should be 2 of the stronger. Do think if Connor Coles was released from Newcastle due to his poor form, may be able to get his confidence back just riding for us in the nl, but as you say he is the main worry, but I'm sure we'll all get behind him as usual to help him on.

I'm not sure of the rules but assume new averages come in when a rider does 4 league matches , so some riders atain a new average before others? Probably trying to read something that's not there and as his Mum has said Tom's got tonsillitis you'd think it was true, but if he doesn't ride does it still leave the door open for Jake with the average changes as Tom would still be on a 3 with some of the others getting lower averages?

Yes, I thought that as well, he's certainly had his fair share over his career.

I may have missed it somewhere if his actual average is out there, but if my maths are correct the most he will be is 7.5. This can't be right with a rider of his stature, have always been a fan of his so not knocking him, but it does smack of the type of thing Matt Ford would engineer for Poole in the premiership, not really wanted in the nl. Could get my head around it if he was replacing Morley or Zack with a similar assessed average, but David Mason!

Speedway, rationale, rulebook? I don't think so!

Jake never let Eastbourne down last year, so look after him and he'll look after you. If he's confirmed as the new rider which seems the case pleased for you and should get your season going, bit top heavy but will be good to watch.

I suppose also if you've been in the old elite league for as many years as Coventry, apart from the few you've already mentioned most club assets would never ride in the NL, although you may get loan fees I suppose if you're correct.

I think Eastbourne transfered them to Lakeside after a year in the nl. But again it just shows there are never any straight forward rules when it comes to speedway.

Same scenario as Eastbourne I think, which appears they were frozen for a year,and unless you go back to one of the two top leagues lose them. Again seems unfair!

Believe so all one way traffic, can't retain assets you already have, and can't find new talent and keep them as assets. Typical unfair rule that speedway seems to abound with!

Not too sure about that really, think they're happy where they are at the moment, financially and attendance wise.

Think Eastbourne ceased to have assets the moment they went to the Nl, as did Birmingham so assume the same would happen to Coventry . Didn't think they were frozen just lost them or had to transfer them. Also the likes of Wood and Brennen can't be assets which seems a bit unfair as loan fees in the future could help keep Nl clubs continuing to bring on the like.

Sure you're right unless the rules have changed recently.

Think the only way is to keep the Nl level basically as it is, and have one North/South championship quality league above. If the likes of Poole, and the bigger clubs finally realise that speedway in this country can't support the wages of Gp and top line riders like Holder, Doyle ,Lindgren etc the better chance it has of lasting a few more years. Wages are the key, run them within your means whether that's at championship or nl level. That's why the nl has gone from strength to strength, but it has to retain the likes of Buxton, IOW etc, not at the expense of bigger clubs coming 'down'.I know that could be said to a degree with Birmingham and my Eastie, but I think generally they have gone with the ethos of the league. Brennen, Powell, Wood, JPB, Hume just to name a few of the young riders they've helped on . Think Coventry are a slightly different case from a team dropping down as they're not a club riding at all at the moment.

I think the situation really only arose with Jake keep practising at Arlington. If hadn't been doing that, don't think the discussion of him maybe coming back would have come into the equation.

I agree and to honest it's a bit of a distraction, and if we do go with the team I'm sure the fans will properly get behind Coles and Dugard as they're the 2 struggling at the moment.

I suppose one can't read too much into it, but his covers certainly don't look very compatible with the Eastbourne kit! Also Connor sort of intimated last week he was going with the current team, so although I'd love to see him back, deep down think he's off somewhere else.

Doesn't Perks still ride for Rye on a Saturday night?

I suppose may not be a NL league side? Is a championship side in desperate need of a 2 pointer?

Agree about Tom really and rather he'd have gone to 3/4, but as the gap in average between him and the others is fairly great he may well stay at no 1. This is all fairly typical of a strength in depth team where I suppose 1 of 3 riders could possibly be at no1. Think you're right about Kelsey , do think the problem with Connor is the Newcastle , Eastbourne travelling, if he was riding just for us, or with another closer team, hopefully would improve, but that's out of our hands.

Perhaps a maximum amount per rider (maybe once or twice a season), or maybe once or twice per club, then revert to a no 8 or a 3 point rider. Would give leaway for exceptional circumstances like exams /child birth etc, but limit any club taking the mickey. On hindsight probably best to limit the amount of times a club does it rather than a rider.