szkocjasid

Everyone is raving about Sheffield (weak reserves) but saying Plymouth look terrible (strong reserves). A strong heat leader & a weak reserve still gets a 3-3 against second strings & strong reserves. With less heat leaders available this year, all teams will want to have two, points limit stops you having 3 (except Poole who could have 4). Then improving riders at the bottom end could prove the difference.

Like the look of this potential team Workington Craig Cook 8.52 Michael P Toft 7.01 Claus Vissing 6.24 Anders Rowe 5.80 Dan Gilkes 4.84 Adam Roynon 3.50 Sam McGurk 2.00 Total 37.91

I'd always announce from the top down, whet the appetite of the supporters (& help sell season tickets).

In hindsight it's so obvious what went wrong at Rye House. It's such a shame the promoters didn't realise too. Obviously they would've been better staying in the Champ on Saturdays than going Prem on Thursdays, don't want the same to happen to Glasgow.

Totally agree with that, but think the difference between Poole's and other reserves won't be as big as some are suggesting.

Stolen by @Diamonds85 from a NL post Poole reserves NDL averages: Sam Hagon 8.24 Max Perry 7.75 Glasgow reserves NDL averages: Lee Complin 7.46 Ace Pijper 5.81 Glasgow have used about 7 points for their reserves, Poole used about 4.5. Based on their NL scores, Poole's reserves should do ok in the Champ.

I missed that part, just read the names, when 2 heat leaders were mentioned

Won't be doubling up, Birmingham are the only team needing riders, but they're looking for heat leaders.

They're certainly not as bad as some are making out. You could argue Plymouth's reserves are on a par with Glasgow's second strings!

You don't have to win at these tracks to become Champions, just win big at home! Anyway I'd suggest a mid-table season would be deemed a successful season by most involved with Plymouth.

Richie Worrall, Nick Morris & possibly Josh Pickering.

You're entitled to that opinion, I'm sure Berwick promotion & Hume hope you are right & he shows what he can do next year.

I expect Allen to improve his average, but can't see him being in the top 5 Champ averages, come the end of the season. He'll be behind Kerr, Schlein, Harris, Worrall, Masters, Nicholls, Lawson, King & Wright for sure (& maybe others).

Maybe a couple are stepping up early, but as long as they ride at 7 & meeting the opposing no 7 three times a match, should work out well. Putting them at 6 (harder rides) and it does nothing for their development (or certainly makes it harder). Wish the Champ teams had followed the Prem rules re number 7s - if they really cared about rider development, they would have imo.

Poole nearly always seem to put their strongest 2 at 1&5 (correctly imo). I don't see why you'd keep Ben & Zach at 3&4 just because they ride well together, especially if it makes them weaker with Brennan at 5. Look at Holder & Ward, they were fabulous riding together, but they weren't partnered at 1&2 (could've been) just because they rode well together, would have upset the balance of the team.

Think you're being a bit harsh on Hume. Moving away from reserve in the Champ & moving away from the RS spot isn't easy. Similarly averages riders like Nielsen, Starke, Fredriksen, Borke, Hook, Atkins, Heeps, Pearson, Newman, Rowe, Edwards, Bailey, Mountain & Kemp all got spells at reserve. I'm sure Hume didn't get that opportunity. Otherwise I'm sure he'd have scored more & been on a par with those 5+ averaged riders.

Staying at the same level in 2024, will mean Allen's average going up (weaker league). With heat leaders missing, it should be at the top end of teams that the biggest average rises occur.

He's ok at 4 when you have 3 "heat leaders" but if he's part of a "top 2" I'd 100% have him at 5.

I think 2023 was Hume's first season where he never rode at reserve, so I guess you can call it a season of consolidation. Now's the time to step up for his & Berwick's benefit.

Good signing (Kemp) by Berwick. Glad to see Brits getting signed up.

Plus Plymouth won't make the play-offs, or later KOC / BSN rounds, so they've only got 11 home matches themselves.

Personally I think Starke is a good signing, should up his average to over 5 imo.

Doesn't fit, can't have both.

With a 38 point limit, every rider in the league should put half a point on their average. So adding a point won't be as hard as previously.

Scored better than BWD!