szkocjasid

Surprised Flint is as high as that

Nope, referring to the thread, don't understand people asking "does anyone have any news" if there was official news we'd all know it, anything else would just be rumours / opinions.

I don't understand why people ask "does anyone have any news" when there's news the BSPL / SCB will announce it, until then it's just people opinions & speculation - which is interesting & what the forum is for. But don't expect concrete answers till the AGM.

It made sense in the past not to include KOC matches, but not now. Prem clubs race 24 meetings, but the rolling aves only count the last 20, so that creates an imbalance where some riders will be dropping 4 tough matches, others could be dropping 4 easy matches. In the Champ clubs only raced 16 league matches, so their rolling aves will include 4 (minimum) league matches from 2022. Is it really better to count the last 4 league matches from last season than counting the BSN series / KOC matches instead?

I personally really liked that format. Better for the fans imo, as they get more HL vs HL clashes, same with reserves. Obviously top riders won't like it as they get harder races, but if they are serious about getting to the top of the sport (Poland) they need to get used to tough opposition. Plus you could make pay rates for 1,3+5 higher than 2+4, which would be higher than 6+7.

Lowering the points limit could improve the racing, if it led to the top riders missing out on the Champ. Currently the 2.00 reserves are miles away from the Masters & Douglas standard riders. But if the 8.00 heat leaders become the top men, then there is a smaller gap between top & bottom riders, so the racing should be closer. Should help NL riders stepping up having more riders nearer their ability to attempt to beat. However of it leads to lots of 4-6 point riders being dropped and teams running with strong top ends & 4 reserves, then the gap is bigger & racing more processional.

I think the limit should be 40 or 39 to build a bigger gap between Prem & Champ and most importantly lessen the gap between Champ & NL. However if the NL disappears with Mildenhall & Workington stepping up, think it would have to be even lower so the strength is half way between Champ & NL level. If the likes of Oxford, Poole & Glasgow want to sign top riders, they'll have to move up a league

I see Ace Pijper has made his return from injury.

As rediciulous as that would be, King's Lynn were allowed to do that this season!

Others don't have to take the qualifying route, they can get seeded into the series. Besides what nation would nominate Laguta & Sayfutdinov, doubt Poland would give up any of their spots?

I agree if you pick one, you should pick both, it's just a personal choice based on Laguta's terrible attitude in his debut British season. Nothing to do with his ability.

Quite likely, but he qualified so deserves his chance. One downside of having 5 wildcards is some top riders not entering the qualifying system as they'll expect a wildcard. So you could get riders qualifying but being out of their depth in the GPs. But despite thier poor seasons, riders like Przedpelski deserved & Nilsson 100% deserved to be in the GPs, besides - someone has to finish bottom.

Woffy had no divine right to be in the GPs, & never enters the qualifiers, so I can't see any reason for him to have a strop (if he did).

My picks: Sayfutdinov, Kolodziej, Thomsen, Bewley & Fricke. Expected picks: Thomsen, Bewley, Woffinden, Fricke & Janowski / Kubera?

Gotcha, not easy to get sarcasm when it's written down

I understand your point, but Smith can only guest against Belle Vue because they've deemed him not good enough to ride for them? He's surplus to requirements as Belle Vue (correctly) believe Bailey to be stronger, so in theory shouldn't score any points, if they lost out - need to blame themselves for not riding well enough, that's my view anyway.

I'm obviously in the minority here, but I have no issue with Harris guesting for Ipswich in the semi & then Sheffield in the final. Riders guest all year round & can even knock their own team out of competitions. So can't see how this is a big issue, when his team isn't involved.

Consider the alternative though, riders for Kent, Mildenhall etc, could guest in any match, but if Colts aren't allowed to guest against the Aces, they'll have less chances to guest as an RS. Seems odd that signing for Belle Vue Colts could limit your Prem chances?

His system shows the flaw in using 4 or 5 year old averages for GP riders!

I personally hate the drone footage shown in the GPs, by all means show it after the race for a different view, but please not during races.

Redcar wanted Jenkins this year, but he went where he got paid more (nothing wrong with that) so a team's assets mustn't mean much?

Completely forgot Poole were racing today, guess I'm not used to clubs reaching the play-off final & then racing another qualifying match lol!

Ben Cook would have been a good choice imo Edit: forgot Poole were racing tonight

They've had similar ideas in the past, but it means club finishing second can get 2 big play-off crowds, whereas table toppers only get one big crowd! Plus the team that gets a bye are not as race fit as the semi final winners

That's the whole point of play-offs, the top 4 have an equal chance of being Champions. I don't like play-offs & think top of the league should be Champions. But it's what the clubs voted for, so 1st & 2nd can have no complaints.