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Average is too high, can't really see Scunny making a double change.

Plymouth, Edinburgh & Workington could be considered weaker possibly?

Peter Kildemand has a 4.00 average after 6 matches. He'll be at reserve soon.

Kerr is back at 5 for the northern tour.

I'm pretty sure the logic being if Anders is good enough to score 15 points at number 5, with Kerr & Cook scoring more points at 3/4, then it's the wrong position for him to be riding in.

Good news for Birmingham, team should be the strongest it has been all season, especially with Jeppesen dropping to reserve. I feel Hume had to have known he was a temporary signing, even if Birmingham didn't tell him Zagar would take his spot when he got a visa, looking at the strength of the team & how they've struggled he'd surely know his team spot was not secure. So I'd prefer to look at it as if Birmingham gave him an unexpected extra few matches after losing his spot at Sheffield, rather than feel like he's been dropped twice through no fault of his own.

Having a strong reserve is more of a masterstroke when a team manager gives them extra rides😝

If Gusts rides to his potential, could make them odds on for a top 4 spot.

For their next home match I'd try Kerr at 3, Cook at 4 & Rowe at 5.

Chance for Joe T to stake his claim for a permanent RS spot

Nothing against Darryl Ritchings, but I'm kinda hoping he scores 0 points. Maybe help remind Poole fans it's not easy for a 2.00 reserve to score points against strong opposition reserves & they'll give Marson a bit of a break from criticism.

Because they think Cairns is the best 2.00 prospect & they want to win the league. Poole always plan to be the best they can.

I'm surprised to see Brennan at 5. Wouldn't have done that myself, but there's no harm in trying something different, even it Witches lose, still gonna top the table. Doesn't even guarantee a Sayfutdinov win in heat 12 though as Pickering is flying at home.

Oxford Spires: Maciej Janowski (C), Peter Kildemand, Charles Wright, Rohan Tungate, Erik Riss, Craig Cook, Luke Killeen (RS). Belle Vue Aces: Brady Kurtz (C), Norick Blodorn, Jaimon Lidsey, Zach Cook, Dan Bewley, Tate Zischke, Jake Mulford (RS). Interesting to see Riss at 5. Probably do fine at home, wouldn't have him there away though.

Comment from Leon Flint on his FB page "riding after every track grade is difficult" I've never understood why that would be? I remember hearing similar things in GPs. Even if it's harder because you don't know how the track will ride, it's the same for your 3 opponents! Likewise if it's easier going out in the last of each batch of races, it'll be easier for your 3 opponents too. Should it not logically get easier for the number one draw as they'd get used to riding after the track grades but their 3 opponents only get to experience that once?

I don't think anyone could deny that Leicester vs King's Lynn has more riding on it. But no doubt some will prefer to watch Sheffield vs Ipswich if they think they'll get better racing or enjoy watching the leagues best riders. Both of these are good reasons to want to watch the match. I just don't think the result means a lot (apart from pride / confidence). This is one of the reasons I dislike the play-offs, Sheffield vs Ipswich should be the most important match of the season so far. But with both clubs 99% assured of a play-off spot, doesn't interest me as much. Well apart from seeing if Ipswich can keep their unbeaten run going?

Lawson is on a par with Wright, he could've been wild card if he was willing to ride. Very disappointing he chose not to ride in the British final. Watching that final, you could see how much being British Champion meant to them all (as it should be). Brilliant stuff from all four riders.

Leicester vs Kings Lynn is a more important match. Could go along way to decide which team makes the top 4. On the other hand Sheffield vs Ipswich has virtually nothing riding on it, whatever happens both teams will be in the play-offs.

But that wasn't the "masterplan". So far they have 5 riders who've upped their starting averages. ONE poor match doesn't mean they've become a bad team overnight. Given most fans had Poole in their top 4 predictions, wouldn't call it an "average" side.

Can't say I'm a fan of lowering the minimum average for foreigners to 3.00. Just makes it harder for Brits to get a spot. I have nothing against foreigners riding over here, but now Gusts will be considered far more valuable on a 3.00 ave, so clubs wanting to make a change with less than 4.00 available no longer have to sign a Brit. If the logic was "it doesn't make sense having a minimum 4.00 ave for foreigners in both leagues" then make it 4 in the Prem & 5 in the Champ.

Edinburgh have their 2nd highest averaged rider at 4, 3rd highest at 2, 4th highest at 5 & 5th highest at 3!

He's not a heat leader though. Putting a rider at number 3 doesn't make them a heat leader.

I don't know if it's in the rules, but the teams from the same group should not be in the same semi final.

If 8 clubs wanted 2H/2A then that's what they would have voted for. I can't believe they'd stick to 1H/1A just to keep Oxford trebling up. More likely the Friday clubs Edinburgh, Glasgow, Redcar & Scunthorpe want to race 99% of their home fixtures on a Friday, 2H/2A would mean more chance of having to race on an off race night.

I think Plymouth appear odds on for the wooden spoon. Don't see Berwick, Edinburgh or Workington being in any danger of finishing below them.