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That's how he'd be available at reserve, if he wasn't "well past his best" that team would be over the limit. I don't know if he's in Scunny's plans, just picking teams with unannounced riders.

I think he's clearly good enough to be a number 5, especially in a weaker league. Even if he's not it's a 7 man team, so one rider "out of position" won't hurt Poole. There will probably be several riders racing in a higher position next year, compared to 2023. I also note that Scunthorpe won the KOC with a number 5 on a 7.16 average.

How about? Edinburgh Josh Pickering 8.63 Steve Worrall 7.84 Paco Castagna 5.30 Cameron Heeps 5.00 Lasse Fredriksen 4.57 Bastien Borke 4.00 Connor Coles 2.63 Total 37.97

Have to agree, I rate Cook, but wouldn't have signed him in place of either of them.

I guess my question would be did he sign a 2 year contract or just verbally agree to return. If it's the first one they can get mad, if it's the second one - well they've practically done the same to Anders Rowe, told him he's 99% sure of a team spot, only to change their mind. Getting off topic now, whoops.

So why were Poole so upset that Basso chose to go to Glasgow? At times their attitude sounded like Basso had just received a testimonial then left the next day after promising to stay (I may be exaggerating slightly lol).

I've never understood that argument against signing a rider, I'd say Sam Masters is past his best, but that doesn't stop Oxford wanting to sign him. Plus if TJ wasn't past his best he wouldn't be available on a 6.4 average.

Very strange, he was one of Berwick's plus points last year.

Scunthorpe ? Kyle Howarth 7.76 Michael P Toft 7.01 Simon Lambert 5.87 Connor Mountain 5.26 Drew Kemp 5.16 Paul Starke 4.00 Nathan Ablitt 2.93 Total 37.99

Struggling to think of any heat leaders heading to Plymouth, so came up with a strength in depth team Plymouth Ben Barker 7.42 Broc Nicol 5.95 Kyle Newman 5.51 Dillon Ruml 5.47 Dan Gilkes 4.84 Alfie Bowtell 4.49 Zaine Kennedy 4.27 Total 37.95

He makes good points about the 38.00 limit, while I believe they may have managed 39 or 40 and had each club being competitive, there was no chance of a 42 limit, unless you wanted what happened in 2023 to happen again (4 clubs well adrift).

I'll add, it's disappointing 2 Brits being dropped.

Totally agree, no reason for Oxford not to start with Atkins (if not using Jenkins) then if Boughen outscores him every week in the Champ - bring Boughen in. Bit of a risk for me starting with Boughen, after all he's not even an 8.00 NL rider!

Kerr should keep his average (in a weaker league) but I wouldn't expect it to improve, as you point out he's moving from number 3 to number 1. But, he's given Berwick a stronger top end in a weaker league, something Bandits fans aren't used to having recently.

For me someone like Tom Brennan, a 3rd heat leader who spent the majority of the season at number 5, would be on a good average. It would be the same as signing Alfie Bowtell to use at reserve as his average was gained in a second string position.

Based on his 8.63 average being 8th= highest in the league, means he's a number one in a 9 team league. Remove Douglas, Basso & Morris & he'd be then 5th= highest, so ever more a number one for 2024.

Despite reading that all winter, I just couldn't believe it (till now) honestly thought he was a Bandits lifer (while in the Champ)

The biggest issue with Speedway, right here. Why would any business pay more out than comes in? I know riders will say bikes / tuning is expensive, but they shouldn't be able to demand that they need to use the most expensive equipment if the crowds don't allow promotions to pay for it!

For me it would be daft of Oxford to let Jenkins be a rising star elsewhere & use Boughen themselves.

unless the rules have changed, both Flint & Kemp still qualify as "rising stars"

I don't understand this comment: Louis says that team building for the new campaign is complete with announcements to be made over the coming days so he's basically saying, we've picked a team but aren't going to tell you yet - seems an odd way to treat your fans? Would it not be better to simply say "team announcements / signings will be made over the coming days"?

While no one likes to lose at home, did those defeats actually hurt Ipswich? They still won the KOC & made the play-off final (winning their home leg) turning those 3 defeats into wins, doesn't help them win the league. If anything, signing riders who go well at Sheffield could be the answer?

Hadn't seen that, cheers for the confirmation.

Berwick have edited their post to add a challenge match, so it must be 3 groups of 3? Shame they didn't answer my query / thank me for pointing out their error!

Can't see how that would work, allowing a 4 team group to save Berwick & Workington travelling, but means Redcar & Scunthorpe having to go to Poole & Plymouth twice?