szkocjasid

Who's the reigning German Champion? Or was highest ranked non GP rider?

Yeah, that would be my suggestion too.

With Glasgow called off early, Sam McGurk would no longer be needed to guest for the Colts.

Monarchs should score 50 imo

With so few fixtures it should be very easy to rearrange matches. But with 4 Friday clubs who don't want to race on an off race night, suddenly not so simple. I would prioritise the BSN matches, as that is supposed to be an early season competition. Race Berwick on 30th May.

I can see a decent Leicester win here. The Belle Vue side looks the weakest since the Colts reformed imo. Obviously when they keep lowering the points limit that's to be expected. Looks a tough ask for Jack Shimelt to step up into the top 5. But if the focus is on development rather than winning, then the team looks fine.

Team lineups BELLE VUE: Will Cairns, Mason Watson r/r, Jack Kingston, Jack Shimelt, Sam McGurk, Harry Fletcher, Billy Budd. LEICESTER: Ben Morley, Eli Meadows, Darryl Ritchings, Sonny Springer, Max James r/r, Ryan Ingram, Cooper Rushen.

The Scorpions match starts at 3pm, with the Steelers after maybe a 4:30-5pm start? Credit to the riders for being willing to take on the guest meeting, but if they were delayed I don't think the meeting should start late. That's a risk the club is willing to take. I see the preview doesn't mention what's happening to the Vinnie Foord position, mentions he's not available but lists him in the lineup?

When it's the reduced average rule can't use r/r only a guest. While it was a terrible injury Woffinden suffered & we all wish him the best, I'm not sure why Sheffield should get the facility extended. Rules are there for a reason & getting a longer facility won't help Tai heal any quicker. Ben Basso & Lewis Kerr would fit. Sheffield already have a strong top 3 without Woffy, certainly at home. Could allow them a stronger reserve pairing. Hopefully Tai will then be fit enough to return in 2026.

Joe T would be my choice if they were gonna make a change.

Now I have nothing against Ipswich, but I would love it if they win every match in the "qualifying league" but lost out in the play-offs. Just so more people would agree that the play-offs are wrong! Ideally with the team that finishes 5th winning it (having been 4th at the cut-off date).

Nah Ermolenko is a better team manager than Schroeck imo.

Would it be worth using Zischke at number 2, where he did so well last year? Less pressure that riding at number 5?

If there was a rider on a 7 point ave available to replace Cook, even temporarily, I'd go ahead & do it. But if not, I'd stick with guests or r/r. I wouldn't make a double change, can't see any top riders willing to come over. Edit: Lynn's total average will drop in May, they'd have 7.30 available to replace Cook.

Gilkes wasn't great for Sheffield last year, so while he was an option, I wouldn't say it's shocking he didn't get picked. Boughen is on a par with Gilkes in the Champ, so Lynn could (rightly imo) think no point in swapping Boughen for Gilkes. Hagon is only a reserve because 1) he has a British reduction, 2) because Berwick have built their team to have a strong reserve. For example Hagon has a higher average than fellow "rising star" Mulford who is in Redcar's top 5. Gilkes may come into contention at some point, but I wouldn't expect any Prem side to change their RS this early in the season.

I seem to notice a trend this season with fans wanting what they don't have, or could be pointing out "flaws" on other sides. Glasgow "need stronger reserves" Oxford "only have one heat leader" Workington"only have one heat leader" Redcar "will struggle if one of the top 5 underperforms" Scunthorpe"need more big hitters" So if you have strong reserves then your top end is too weak & vice versa. With a low points limit (anything below 42 is low imo) sides will always look weak in some areas. I've gotta say I think it makes for a fascinating season. In this case, I can understand why Workington built with a stronger bottom end than last year, reserve strength was their biggest issue last year. Zischke & Vuolas were very strong at home last year, so maybe big home wins is Workington's plan for success in 2025?

You never know for sure, but of Kemp is at 4 every meeting & the opposition team manager moves a stronger rider to 4 to counter that, I fully expect Berwick to leave the side as it is & not "counter the counter". Sorry for taking over the Glasgow vs Edinburgh thread with Berwick, but once a discussion heads in a different direction, it would be odd answering on a different thread!

Bit early to say that after only ONE match imo Also, let's see how Marson does against his fellow 2.00 opponents. Not expecting much from him in general, but Oxford have a good looking bottom end, so not fair to judge him on this meeting.

I do understand that logic, although could mean the tac subs would come in heat 12 instead? Of course if Glasgow only went 6 up after heat 13, then having Howarth or Dan T at 4 covers heat 14. Seeing Berwick have Borke at 3 & Kemp at 4, I'd be moving Flint to 3 for those fixtures.

Birmingham & Oxford for a start.

Given that Flint has already announced he wants to be Glasgow number one, I don't see why they would need to shy him away from a "pressure position" not that I think he's in one (riding at 1&5 would be pressure). That being said, there's no reason why a team manager can't swap riders round based on tracks / opposition / who's on form / who rides well together? There's not many that swap around the riding order there days.

I don't understand what Wright was getting upset about, pretty embarrassing to see a professional sportsman acting like a toddler imo

Kinda ironic that Poole seems to do the very least when it comes to youth development, only started running NDL individuals because they had to, but could end up signing two of the most promising young Brits

How much of a difference does that make? If you're stronger in 14, then you're weaker in 12. I rather move the riders around based on the opposition, when a team has a stronger rider at 4, put Dan T or Howarth at 4, otherwise have Flint at 4?

Perry & Hodder are doing their jobs. When a team signs 2 x 2.00 riders it's not the reserves job to win them meetings.