szkocjasid

They only have 3 guaranteed home Trophy fixtures, hopefully 4. Of course it's not gonna be a full season lol! Unless they run a LOT of challenge matches?

In that case, I can see why you thought it was a poor signing. I wouldn't have fancied him on a 7 ave myself.

I agree, but that's kind of irrelevant, only thing that matters is if he can up his average. When Lynn announced Harris at reserve, you didn't get many complaints that he was "past his best". It's the same for Zagar at Birmingham, I know he's past his best, but if he can keep his starting average, then he's done his job.

I don't understand all the negativity, they're only using 4/5 points on Kildemand (I believe), which makes him a heck of a reserve, if he moves up will still have a good reserve. As long as they don't waste their final signing, look like a play-off side to me. Even if he struggles, just replace him with a doubling up Champ rider, Kerr / Kemp / Batchelor / Worrall, no harm done.

Did anyone say Kildemand?

Now I've seen the rules, Kent could go with Ablitt & Morley. Any rider who rode in 24 is eligible for 25. Morley would be the only "4-6" rider.

Just fits, would be their best team for a few years imo Michael P Toft 7.80 Nico Covatti 7.82 Ben Barker 5.87 Joe Thompson 5.63 Alfie Bowtell 5.07 Lasse Fredriksen 4.67 Ben Trigger 3.00 Total 39.86

I think it would have to be a ruling on matches ridden, age shouldn't really come into it. Personally I don't mind Morley in the development league, he's giving the better riders someone to aim to beat. i.e if you can beat Morley you're ready for the Champ. If the top NDL riders ended up being Scott, McGurk, Hodder, Garrad, Perry & James, all riders who couldn't reach the minimum 2.00 Champ ave, how would NDL riders know when to step up?

The rule was, if a rider had ever averaged above 4, they couldn't race in NDL. So even 3 points riders like William Lawson could no longer ride in it. Rules must have changed to allow Morley & Harrison to race in the development league, just wish they'd announce the rule changes.

He rarely has a full season to try & "kick on" this year was probably one where he rode most of the season, very good at reserve, averaging above 5, but poor in the top 5, so his average dropped pretty much back to where it started. I'd pick him if I had 3.7 available, but not over 4 like Workington have left.

I'll disagree on that one, lots of 2 point riders get a second season & Jack is better than all of them. Maybe if he did worse last year could fit into some teams, explain that to non-speedway fans

I get your point, but any points Oxford or Workington gain from their number 7, Poole will gain from their 3,4&5.

I don't think Knudsen as as bad as some are making out, but I would've preferred Ablitt, if I was an Oxford fan.

I agree, just pointing out that next year only having one heat leader isn't going to be as bad as it would've been 5/10 years ago.

That would always be my preference

Not sure why the need for concern? Let's say Berwick only have Cook as a "genuine heat leader", Edinburgh only have Sedgmen, Oxford only have Masters & Plymouth haven't named any. Looks like we'll have more teams built with strength in depth in mind?

That's not how the averages work, Newman averaged 4.96 from 11 matches, his rolling average consisted of these along with 9 matches from 2023. If he rode one more match, he'd still carry 8 matches from 2023 in his rolling average. I'm not sure who Plymouth have planned for 2025, but I'd welcome Newman back for another go.

It's hard to judge Glasgow's chances, rumoured top 5 looks great, but 2 x 2.00 reserves must be a concern. Ps Poole only had one, Hagon started above 2.00, something Glasgow are missing.

Tbf at that stage of the season there was nothing riding on the fixtures till the play-offs started, that could also have affected the crowds.

Well the team isn't too dissimilar from my suggestion of a strength in depth team, Knudsen rather than Ablitt & McDiarmid rather than Hook.

Imagine buying a new silencer, then putting it into your garage for 4 years until you're allowed to use it lol!

Would it not be the trophy they'd enter though? Apparently the NDL sides are happy with the amount of meetings they get so any new teams had to enter the Trophy. No difference, except location of opponents obviously.

The way I read the post, sounded like he chose to leave rather than Edinburgh couldn't fit him in.

I'll completely disagree that the Ipswich team needed strengthening, they were he best team by far (till injuries came in). Obviously they want to put out the best team they can to improve their chances of winning the league, so naturally looked to strengthen up. While it seems a surprise a successful team could drop their averages, that could be expected more due to the high points limit. Teams should average out at 42, teams are really running at 43 (40+RS) so teams should end up with lower averages (on the whole).

Don't understand the decision making there, how much is having an asset like Baek worth if he can't reach a 4.00 average. Even if a club finds a future superstar like Ben Basso (don't know of he belongs to Poole or Glasgow) if he leaves to concentrate on Poland, having him as an asset does nothing for a club. Would rather clubs use Brits first than sign up new "assets"