stevebrum

Looks spot on to me. Ipswich are 2nd purely because of the top 2 but Lynn look the weakest on paper backed up by the bookies. The Stars could be dangerous if anyone really takes on the number 1 role and steps up. Very dark horses.

It still stinks a little that the ok was granted for Belle Vue to use Lambert as an injury replacement but Wolves were denied using Woffy when they had their top 2 with season ending injuries (Lindgren and Thorssell) which were exactly the same scenario. Im not saying it was done deliberately but not done fairly for all teams using the so called same rules, regulations and interpretations of the rules. Any rider that is good enough to ride in the Swedish AND Polish top flight need to have a minimum 7 point average assessed imho. I take your point that the averages don’t always tell the whole story however in my opinion riders that ride in top flight leagues will be used to coming up against and challenging a higher standard of rider than in the UK so will have it relatively easier over here. There has to be some sort of bench mark for assessing standards of riders, for me it’s simple to say that if you are good enough to ride in both top flight leagues then a minimum assessed average should be deemed fair. I think a 6 would be to low so that’s why a 7 seems fair to me. plus if you are also a GP rider as well then nothing less than an 8 or 8.5 seems fair.

My point is that riders missing a season in the UK SHOULD be reassessed annually. 3 years is too long for some riders who can return on a paltry average having improved massively within those 3 years (Lidsey is a prime example of that). That was my point. That is indeed a different point. We should not be encouraging riders to return ONLY for the play offs to help themselves and that team to glory. now of course this will depend on your viewpoint if riders being allowed to ride here only for the play offs because of a proven injury or the long standing replacement for injury only from those teams out the play offs. Neither of them is really the answer. I still say it depends on who asks if a replacement is allowed as to whether it’s granted, and I doubt that will change. Hopefully Morris will add integrity and transparency to the league rules and running.

Tough on BWD but he is a top rider in that league so reducing his average would also have been grossly unfair. Not all of them yet. The point remains.

Completely agree. Any rider that has a year out of British Speedway should be reassessed before the next new season.Some riders have made massive strides in their career since out of racing. Lambert was a completely different rider in 23, it’s a mockery to bring a rider in on a false average. Lidsey has had 2 seasons of progress in the toughest league in the world yet gets to keep his outdated British average. Bonkers, another false average. Bellego has progressed in the world of speedway yet comes back on his last British average from years ago. Bonkers again and another false average. Woffy coming in for a wolves in 2016 ruffled plenty of feathers because he was a world champion on his low real average and this was one that seemed to stir this whole hornets nest that we have now and the one that seemed to stick in the teeth of Aces fans mostly (but happy to use that now). I think the common factor is that fans don’t like riders coming back and using outdated averages at a gain to other clubs (unless it’s the fans of the club that get the advantage I guess). It seemed that loophole was closed but reopened to suit any club or promoter asking. I think for transparency (not a word the BSPL seem to like) riders missing 12 months from the UK get an annual reassessment based on their Polish and Swedish averages. Surely any rider who rides in the GP should at least be a 9 surely? Minimum 8. I don’t think any fan would begrudge riders being fairly assessed on their current ability, not an outdated one.

Wasn’t Zmarzlik a 7 or 7.5 when he rode for Birmingham? still think it’s fair to bring him back in that? jesus wept indeed.

Without the play offs more clubs would close.

The world number 5 was always going to score more than Max, I’m well over it. it still stinks.

I think that’s how much his ‘star’ has fallen that no one really sees him as one of the big stars returning.

Absolutely!! But he is one of the worst hence why I feel he is completely overrated.

His attitude to British clubs remains suspect.

I’m not the only one that hasn’t liked KK attitude to the UK. He was sacked on 5 different occasions from British clubs. I just have never rated him as a so called world class rider. He had a few decent seasons here (when he could be bothered) and equally some atrocious ones. It’s just an opinion, it’s not a science.

Aah come on, Dirty Nicki and KK haven’t ridden here for years. Cut me some slack!

Could be a tough league this year, hope it is. predictions are way harder as you could put a valid argument in for any of the teams. 1. Ipswich. Look the strongest on paper. Rew is probably the key and it depends how quick he settles in. The strongest top 2 bar none. 2. Belle Vue. Solid look with young chargers only getting better. Lidsey is on a steal of an average. How that hasn’t been reassessed I’ll never know. 3. Sheffield - extremely solid. Bellego is a much better rider than when last here. Gilkes definetly one to watch. If he comes back well from his injury they are going to be very dangerous. THE REST 4. Leicester. Solid top 4 but very iffy bottom end. Will need one of them to step up to be serious challengers. 5. Wolves. Look exposed compared to some of the other teams. Masters has proved he is a true number 1. Becker or Douglas (or both) really need to step up otherwise we could be hovering around the basement. 6. Peterborough - Pedersen and Iversen are so injury prone so both need to stay fit. Basso should improve also. Definetly an improvement on 2022. Lots of injuries to other riders with dirty Nicki back here. 7. Kings Lynn - solid but not real leader. KK has to be the worst signing. How long will he last before he stops trying and gets kicked out. Never been a big threat in the UK league. Jakobsen at reserve is a huge bonus.

Exactly, the sport needs the play offs to survive.

Cheated, or acted within the supposed rules just like the Aces did with Lambert. That’s a rule that was denied until they appealed. They are all nonsense rules anyway.

That all teams can use fairly. Until someone brings in a ringer of course. We know some promoters will try.

What a ridiculous list. no one is ‘celebrating’ Russia’s invasion. I would imagine the world is still equally as appalled at Russia’s actions. Why they would announce the signing on that day however is appalling.

And there is nothing worse allowing one team to sign a rider just for the play offs whilst denying another team the same.

So nothing certain about this signing yet then. On paper a great addition. The timing tho…

Just how many maximums did he score in 2022? I can understand fans moaning about signing the world number 5 only for the play offs, way worse than RR and guests!

I thought it was straight forward as well. The rule book I thought WAS clear. No replacements after the deadline OR just for the play offs. And seemingly obvious given both Lindgren and Thorssell had season ending injuries before the play offs for Wolves but using Woffy wasn’t granted because of those rules stated above. Fast forward a couple of seasons and now that same rule is ambiguous, so much so that the Aces WERE given permission to replace a rider when Wolves were denied previously. As usual the governing bodies applying rules in one instance but denying in another for the exact same reason. Teams have lost the plays offs for many years because of injuries but so long as rulings are fair for all and applied equally then I see no reason why any team in the future can’t bring in a replacement for season ending injuries from now on.

2 ffs

Funny how Wolves got turned down using Woffy when we lost both Freddie and Thorssell that cost us the title as well that year. Seems the rule is allowed depends who asks, as is the usual case of the back slapping promoters of the BSPL who seem to bend to allow some teams to use those rules for one meaning but denying another team using the same rule. Its no wonder the sport is a farce. And yes it can get worse………. 2022 we can now introduce a rider ONLY for the play offs by introducing the world number 5 for one that was nowhere that standard on the same GP floor and fans will claim that Lambert was weaker because his average said so. Sorry doesn’t sit well with me at all.

Absolutely correct. Hume is improving bit by bit season on season. Heeps has been in freefall the past 2 seasons. Heeps promised so much but flaters to deceive these days. Hume is easily the better rider at both levels.