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I could understand Paco saying he was "disappointed" not to get a Prem team, but to me he's not good enough to be "angry" about missing out. For me someone like Josh Pickering could have said that before Lynn gave him a chance as he was a Champ heat leader, but was overlooked for riders not as good as him. Guess it's up to Paco to improve enough to get a chance in the future?

Connor Mountain (probably at Scunny), Anders Rowe, Dan Gilkes and Jack Thomas (if fit) all without Champ spots.

How about? Workington Craig Cook 8.52 Troy Batchelor 7.16 Claus Vissing 6.24 Annti Vuolas 5.00 Tate Zischke 5.00 Celina Liebman 4.00 Sam McGurk 2.00 Total 37.92

Assessed riders can drop below their averages, Vuolas & Zischke could drop from 5 to 4 (I don't think they will). Workington could have replace both H.McGurk & Crang, but we're loyal to them when they had high averages, then once their aves had dropped wasn't worth replacing them anymore.

Decent signing, should be able to reach her assessed 4.00 average, plus should generate loads of publicity. I do wonder how they came up with a 4.00 assessed ave though, seems to have similar foreign experience to 5.00 assessed riders?

Didn't notice how wide Sedgmen's home / away splits were until I was reading the Birmingham track review in Speedway Star. Last year averaged 6.93 at home & 8.59 away. So as long as he can ride Armadale better than he can ride Perry Barr, he'd be a great signing.

Totally agree with Bagpuss here, Paco is weaker than Lampart / Zach Cook & Birmingham don't need any spare points at the top of the team. Also he'd be on a 4.00 ave.

Not at all, if Newcastle hadn't closed Wethers rolling ave would have been 5.36. When they did close down he went back to his 2021 figure of 6.47.

Just seen it, embarrassing effort by Batchelor there, putting footballers to shame for their diving abilities. Shame the ref fell for it!

Just watching it now, I had put a win for Summers, then 2 heats later realised my programme was wrong.

Totally agree, shocked that Glasgow didn't retain Vissing tbh. I know Cami Brown thinks Leon Flint is one of the best prospects in world speedway, but he's clearly not seen any foreign prospects. For sure Flint is one of the most promising Brits, but if Workington can get Vissing - could they go win at Ashfield?

“I have not had a call from anyone in the top league and that has angered me. I thought I showed enough when guesting last year but that will be Edinburgh’s gain as I am channelling all of that emotion into doing the best I can for the Blue and Gold. Can't say I agree with Paco's comment about being overlooked for the Prem, I can't see a single club that would be strengthened by his signing on a 4.00 average. But I think he's a good signing for Edinburgh. Could be a 6.5 rider next year.

Last year Vissing averaged 8.00 at home & 6.19 away, so on a 6.24 rolling average that's fantastic value & I'd certainly expect him to improve that.

Everything you've said could come true, that's the beauty of pre-season predictions, we don't have to agree. Based on NL scores, I'd say you're opinion of Trigger vs Poole reserves is most likely to be wrong.

Would be quite weak at 2nd/3rd heat leader level (depending on the improvement of Vuolas & Zischke) but Gilkes would be the strongest reserve in the league by a mile! Workington Craig Cook 8.52 Claus Vissing 6.24 Anders Rowe 5.80 Annti Vuolas 5.00 Tate Zischke 5.00 Dan Gilkes 4.84 Sam McGurk 2.00 Total 37.40

Obviously a 5 point rider is better than Roynon, no-one could deny that, just means their top end won't be as strong.

His average only ruled him out because Leicester kept Joe T. Shame a rider who really needs NL racing left out, rather than a rider who's riding in the Prem. Could certainly hinder Max's Poole scores, not many riders race Champ only in their first season stepping up.

Well 36 is considered to be a low limit, but Oxford have built their team to 34. On paper looks an incredibly weak team, based on last year, 1 heat leader, 2/3 second strings, 3/4 reserves. But it's obvious they've not built a team to win the league but to develop riders, so can't blame them for that!

Oxford have a stronger top 2, but Poole's 3&4 are far far better than Oxford's, which is why I've rated them higher. Both teams have potential at 6&7. Redcar's top 2 on a par with Poole, but once again Poole's 3/4 is a fair bit stronger than Redcar's. Similar reserves, but think Poole's have more potential for improvement. Redcar's biggest gain is Edwards vs Thomsen. As for Glasgow, you could argue they've got 4 reserves, whereas Poole only have 3 lol!

Who would be a better signing then?

Two thoughts: I think Thomsen is a poor signing. Of the 5 completed teams, I think Poole look the strongest.

I'm not sure I understand the arguments against Roynon i.e "a shadow of his former self" or "past his best" etc - of course these statements are true, you'd be signing him as a reserve! If he wasn't "past his best" he wouldn't fit in under the points limit. I think I made a similar comment about Iversen at Lynn, people saying he's not a top rider any more & I'm thinking "but you're signing him as a 3rd heat leader / second string" I suppose it would carry more weight if people suggested stronger alternatives? It's very easy to say he's no good without suggesting who'd be better.

Who's better out there on Roynon's average?

Would be a good signing imo, my "dream team" of Cook, Palm-Toft, Vissing, Vuolas, Zischke, Kennedy & McGurk comes to 38.04, would fit if Kennedy gets a reduction for missing a season due to injury?

Personally think he'd be a terrible choice, signing a 2.7 rider on a 4.1 average. I'd personally pick: Borke, Proctor, MacDonald, Roynon or Nielsen before Clegg.