szkocjasid

I've seen similar comments on the Kings Lynn thread about lack of improvement in their (proposed) top 5. But remember this is a strong league, the average team should have ended 2023 with a 42 limit, so 40+3 or 40+4, means every club / rider could drop their average without getting any worse. Having riders who can ride to their averages, which Sheffield look to have, could be what's needed to win the league. Especially of this team looks capable of 55+ points at home & 40+ points away.

1) they can't do that initially, as Gilkes at 6 puts them over the points limit. 2) I'm guessing a team could re-declare throughout the season to swap the RS about, but they can't pick & choose per meeting, the declared RS would be at 7.

I'm sure Birmingham could find plenty of second strings & reserves to race for them, I just hope they have a top heat leader to lead the team & (hopefully) bring in the crowds.

Unless 1) other promoters don't rate Edwards as one of the best 7 RS or 2) he chooses Sheffield over another team.

They look weak at reserve, that can't be denied imo, but that's what you expect when you sign a powerhouse top 5.

I've never understood the picking order, why does Speedway punish successful clubs? I find it hard to believe there is an order at times as weaker clubs haven't picked the best riders. As for Belle Vue, they picked Mulford, because they didn't want Kemp, Rowe or Bailey apparently? If they had picked one of these 3, it wouldn't look like they had the last choice!

"Rising stars" can race at 6, we've seen this already. Besides the BSPL must allow them to race elsewhere in the team, otherwise they'd be naming 48 of the most promising British riders (amount listed in previous page), only to tell 41 of them they can't race in the Premiership - no-one give them any ideas lol!

What changes were these? I've not seen any rule changes since it was introduced.

Tbh, I wouldn't expect many of the Cheetahs to have Prem slots, I'd plan to use Masters & Jenkins in both teams & it's possible none of the others would get a doubling up spot elsewhere, maybe Boughen?

Or Jason Edwards guesting for Scunthorpe trying to knock Redcar out of the BSN series! It would certainly make sense for Masters & Jenkins to double up, I'd have expected the second heat leader to do so as well, if it wasn't Nicholls.

Just thinking if any current "rising stars" are not eligible next season, they'd be due a 25% reduction, meaning the likes of Jenkins, Flint or Kemp would fit at number 6. Mind you Connor Mountain got a 25% reduction, but never got signed in 2023, does that still count for him too?

Great top 5, no doubt about that, but will leave them using someone like Jason Edwards at number 6, can't see him scoring much, but Gilkes would be a good RS. Hard to compare till other teams sign riders, but on the whole looks good.

I would suggest if using the "fast track" format, that rather than count every heat equally, make heat leader races & reserve races count differently towards the averages.

I would prefer the old Elite league fast track format (2 reserve races) as you say you may get a 3-4 NL standard races per meeting, but to me that's a better alternative than the current system where you could get 2 heat leaders half a lap ahead of 2 NL riders (heat 4).

Part of me agrees with you, but then again, many clubs show no loyalty, so you could argue why should riders?

That could be stronger than their title winning reserves in a weaker league. That being said, I'd assume Pearson would be happy to return to Plymouth as his scoring improved post-Birmingham.

I'd normally agree with that, but would have been linient towards Oxford as they are racing in 3 leagues. Plus, as others have said clubs have previously chosen not to compete in the NLKOC. But if a team was only racing in one league, wouldn't allow them not to enter the KOC.

Just curious, would Oxford have been allowed to not enter the KOC in both leagues, cutting out a few fixtures?

Because he finished the season well (10 match rolling ave), he ended up with a 7.5+ average. So I couldn't see him matching that. I'd only go for him if there's no other options.

If you don't like the Spires, how about Oxford Silver Machine lol!

It's a long time since he's ridden at Foxhall and he's improved a lot since then. Even if it's not his best track, of he scores 5 points a match he's done how job, doesn't need to emulate his foreign scores to be considered a good signing.

Dimitri Berge would be a steal on 4.14

I'd certainly be using Jenkins as the RS. Masters could be the only other doubling up Cheetah, unless Dillon Ruml is Champ HL & Prem reserve.

That comes to 40.55 by my sums

I read what you said, just pointing out that contradicts the rules I read when it started & have not seen them updated since 2021.