Hunters

I keep reading comments like this but never any details or authentication. I imagine you think Eastbourne are one of them but if you saw the size of the gates you would have to wonder where the money for these so called contracts comes from. I did a rough count against Stoke and struggled to get past 150, no doubt it will be the same tonight against Plymouth. They certainly give a lot of help to riders with mechanical assistance and advice whilst the Fans do a lot like raising £900 to help Gary Cottham get a new engine. This is all good for young riders in what still continues to be regarded by some as a development league. No promoter is going to deliberately run at a loss so I ask again, Where is the money coming from? Bandying general statements around without any detail or proof makes them meaningless,

Go back and read last 3 or 4 pages of this thread and you will see how various indications have sewn doubt. More likely to be no chance than unlikely to be honest.

A no brainer, no dis respect to Georgie who is coming along fine but Jake is a different class. Been hoping to get him back all season but looks unlikely now

This is certainly so for riding order and guests but unsure about re-declarations. If not, then the suggested change based on the actual results for the first three matches would have the team thus: Knight 8.53 Bates 5.23 Baseby 7.38 Powell 6.00 Wood 8.00 Brennan 3.00 (unchanged) Another 3.00 Total 41.14 These figures will be higher most likely after the match with Plymouth. So even if Tom does not ride tomorrow the change cannot happen unless the 7 day rule does apply and is ratified. Unfortunate but I think we have to settle for what we have and get Connor and Kelsey moving forward.

The team is unchanged for Saturday so that means they are sticking with the same 7 all season barring injuries. No Jake Knight definite. Connor Coles will have to get his performance up if they are to make the play offs, the other 4 favourites are looking pretty formidable. So far he has only won one race at home when 2 others fell and one away against weak opposition. Two wins in 24 heats as a heat leader says it all. Tom Brennan has toncilitus and nay not ride Saturday. We probably won't need him but it would mean he stays at reserve for the Kent cup matches and also for his fourth League match which is at Birmingham of all places. They won't like him having 7 rides that night. Interesting times!

Shows the stupidity of making all riders average change after only 4 meetings, wide open to potential abuse. They should have stuck with rolling averages except for 3.00 pointers which would still have overcome the problem of the 'star reserve' having it too easy too long and getting 7 rides.

Really pleased for Buxton as it looks certain. Disappointed he decided to have a year out or he would have been back at Arlington but apart from that Buxton would have been my choice for him. Jayne deserves a break (and several more). Having seen Jake twice this year he is different class and looks sure to get the full 15 when he visits us later on and we will not begrudge him that. They will be top heavy but if Woolley and Rutherford give them the right support they will be difficult to beat at home and competitive away. Good Luck to them.

If I remember rightly Eastbourne's licence was only allowed on ice for 1 year. Before this period expired they transferred all assets to lakeside to hold for them. In the event, they never went back to Elite so will have stayed at Lakeside until they dropped out also.

Strange. I thought Adam Ellis was no 1 all season for Brum in 2015. And Zach was 17.

If this was so why has it not been announced. It seems certain that Jake has signed somewhere and I thought the favourites were K Lynn and IOW (although someone did tell me on P&P day that he fell out with KL and would never ride for them again??) Both of these teams can slot him straight in with no other change necessary so why not say so? The only other eligible team in my view would be Buxton replacing Perks with another slight adjustment. Any other team would have to make a pretty major re declaration. All of which would indicate that he is going Championship. The sooner they say so the better.

Perks already missing too often, cannot be good value while in 3 leagues. There is nothing better than Knight for Eastbourne but unfortunately it won't happen.

The same could be said about the IOW so maybe he cannot be announced until somebody has been told they have been dropped. Hope for the eagles yet ??

Probably because when I looked on the internet to find out I made it an a not an e in his name and got the wrong lad.

Not sure that is right about Brennan. All that has happened is that instead of Kings Lynn this week for his 4th match it will now be Plymouth next week. He gets no extra meetings at reserve just a switch between two not dissimilar teams. As I understand it a new average kicks in automatically after 4 League fixtures not upon the monthly update.

We should not put too much pressure on Tom. No 1 at 15 is pretty incredible and must be a record. Dan Bewlay was19 which makes a big difference , both physically and mentally. Tom has had three successive heat 15's now and scored 3 points . I anticipate his average will drop and I would like to see him slot in at No3 unless of course he does prove to be a 'wonder kid' but I don't want to saddle him with that expectation. Kelsey is a different proposition, he is having a lot of mechanical problems and showing much frustration. When not bedevilled by this he is showing a lot of commitment and has put in some good rides. At reserve and when martin overcomes the mechanical gremlins I can see a big jump in his scores. Connor Coles remains my big worry, not too strong at the gate and not to comfortable thereafter. I don't think Arlington is quite his track but he did do well at Plymouth so perhaps he will earn his keep away from home which really would be welcome. The other 4 are all going well in their respective places and I think there is more to come from them all.

More difficult this year with 39 point limit and no high average in the initial declaration. That is why the 4 match deadline, now 27th May (with the KL postponement) is so important. After that only like for like is feasible not a re- shuffle. I don't think we need a re- shuffle anyway, just a quality No1.

Reading Connor Dugard's comments it looks like they will not be making the re-declaration some of us had speculated. That,s a shame because I really can't see the present team as a threat to the likes of Belle Vue. Jake knight returning would have made all the difference. Having made a bad substitute mistake in the Mildenhall match we will have to face up to a non trophy year this year but I guess it is our turn. Should still have some good home meetings but I think away will be our Achilles Heel.

I suspect 20 with the Potters bottom 4 having a very difficult time of it. Heat leaders could have a decent battle though.

Always saying they are going to lose when they know they hardly ever do. Is it some sort of superstition? Comfortable win for the Brummies as usual.

You are completely overlooking that whereas the other teams made their declarations before the season started Swindon declared after most riders had ridden several meetings and shown their current ability not just last years average. Culpitt is a classic example. In Birminghams 5 meetings he has an equivalent to GSA of 6.66 but Swindon have him on a 3. Without working out all their individual meetings you can bet that all the Swindon Select are riding above their starting averages, nicely hand picked. IOW and Plymouth never had a chance and unless there is some misfortune I doubt whether Mildenhall will have in the final either. When it was accepted the Swindon would have the pick of non participating teams they should have been told that they must declare before March to keep an even playing field. They could also have been given the opportunity to name a like for like replacement at Heat Leader, 2nd string and reserve who would come in for any injured or double up rider when unavailable. Far from being prejudiced Swindon have been handed it on a plate, I suspect to try and encourage support andas I believe Rossco put it, prove the NL is viable for the NL next year.

Alex Spooner has been released by Kent so I would go for him as Kelseys replacement on Monday after he has guested for Mildenhall on Sunday.

It does not work that way. A re- declaration with 2 changes has to be to the 39 point starting limit. The team total at present is 48+ after 2 League matches and likely to be higher after Stoke and Lynn at home. New averages kick in after Lynn so there will be no way that Jake could be included without removing 2 or 3 heat leaders and bringing in 3 pointers to replace them. This problem will effect all teams except those (if any) that have made a miserable start and come in the new averages at less than 39. That is why the change has to be made before may 20th. As regards Kelsey, anything he might do on Saturday will have no effect on the change but will change his average after 20th.

The problem is timing. If they don't make a change before May 20th then they will not be able to use Jake Knight unless they release either Baseby or Wood . No way I can see that happening so in the interest of the club they have to bite the bullet and say sorry Connor. IOW is not far away so would be a handy transfer. Without Jake we will struggle against the top teams and if we have an injury to Brennan, Bates or Powell we could be in real trouble. Replacements are difficult to find and we always to have injuries.

Think you will be a bit disappointed. Swindon Select are far too strong for Plymouth probably a poor advert for the NL.

Can see a double deal coming Coles & Dugard for Greaves & Mullins. Strengthens the tail considerably I would think.