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If no-one's willing to move up, what can they do? The fact that Ipswich, Belle Vue & Sheffield haven't exactly shared out the heat leaders, may make any clubs thinking of stepping up hesitant to become the next Birmingham or Oxford?

How about starting off with Tate Zischke at reserve? Kerr for Bowes strengthens the top end! Troy Bachelor - 6.80 Lewis Kerr - 6.77 Annti Vuolas - 6.68 Jye Etheridge - 5.66 Jacob Hook - 5.63 Tate Zischke - 5.43 Mitchell Cluff - 3.00 Total 39.97

If Ace is at 6, won't have such a strong top 4 obviously. Btw I wouldn't call a rider who can score 4 at home & 2 away a "sacrificial no 7" that sounds like a valuable member of the team.

Would you want Ace Pijper if he started in the top 5, not reserve? Chris Harris (8.90) Kyle Howarth (7.92) Leon Flint (6.95) Nick Morris (6.86) Ace Pijper (4.04) Freddy Hodder (2.63) Jack Smith (2.61) * averages aren't official

I don't think Stene is Champ standard yet, some people don't think Perry is good enough, yet he's probably at least 2 points higher than Stene in the development competitions.

Anders, has actually been very consistent, but not scoring double figures. By my fantasy league stats (including bonuses) he's not scored double figures in his last 18 matches, which sounds astonishing for a heat leader in an (almost) treble winning team! Scoring between 5 & 9, averaging 6.7 points a match, he's found the consistency so many riders talk about. Of course I'm sure Anders & Poole expected more from him, it almost seems like he runs one last race per match and never gets into heat 15s, so never reaches double figures any more. Yet his green sheet average didn't seem to drop much!

Totally agree, I can't imagine Poole being unsuccessful just because the track isn't a gaters paradise.

I did say I'd have both of them. Just pointing out it's more Barker's away form that is a concern rather than Joe T's

Just seen heat 15, that was a fantastic ride from Harris, really amazing what he can do on a well prepared track. So the Poole promotion, realising they'll have their biggest crowd of the season, with one of the most exciting riders in British Speedway visiting, decide the best option is to make a super slick track with no option for passing! Which is what their fans want apparently? I really can't understand that. I'm not saying design it so Harris can have a blinder, but a track where you go backwards if you drift off the line, surely not? Don't really like either team, but I'd rather watch racing at Glasgow each week & finish 2nd, than watch Poole each week & win the league. Also makes me question why Howarth was used in heat 16, don't get that decision by Cami.

Looking at the stats (don't scream at me people) Joe T's away ave is almost 2 points higher than Barker's. If you want to be stronger away should pick Joe ahead of Barker. Joe's away ave is almost as high as his starting average, so he's definitely done well imo. Especially as I'm sure it's his first season being completely away from the reserve berth. I'd personally have both of them, especially thinking surely Barker can't be as bad away from home again (averaging less than 3.5). Looks a strong team, think Ingram would be a good choice as 2.00 reserve, he certainly seems to have improved, only saw him once at Scunthorpe & was impressed. Biggest doubt for me is Klindt, not sure I'd want a rider you can't rely on to turn up for home matches.

I am a big fan of the RS system, probably a few times riders who have not been the strongest options have been picked, which is the clubs fault not the systems fault. As long as there are at least 5/6 riders with a Champ average over 3, then I'd keep the system, don't want to force any riders weaker than that up. I agree it's not ideal to that there can be a big gap between ability, each club having 2 RS could solve that i.e whoever gets first pick also gets last pick, but there may not be enough talent to have 2 per club (unless upping the higher limit from 4.00). Think we'll always agree to disagree on the RS system anyway 👍

Probably an unrealistic team, but a title winning one imo Chris Harris Kyle Howarth Leon Flint Nick Morris Mitchell McDiarmid Jordy Loftus Cooper Rushen * I know Rushen is rumoured for Poole, but until he's 16 can't sign a contract, who knows maybe after watching the play-off final would rather ride at Ashfield than Wimbourne Road lol! I'd expect Loftus to return to Edinburgh, but would've said the same thing about Bewley in 2017!

Yeah, I don't mind that idea at all.

Fair enough. I reckon if Champ clubs want more riders who won't miss so many matches, need to lower the limit & include more NDL riders, no doubt fans would moan about the league being weaker though!

If Edwards is eligible he'd be a great RS, if he's too old now would be available on a 3.00 ave, while Jenkins would be on 3.46. Singing a former RS with a 25% reduction worked wonders for them this year.

looks a strong team, I'd have Edwards as RS if he's still an option.

That's a great point, just feel it would be more beneficial for a 17 year old after a season racing in the Champ. As brilliant as Cooper has been this season, he lost to Mulford at Ipswich, lost to Harrison & Scott at Workington, lost to Morley & Foord at Iwade. Now these riders would be the easiest opponents he'd get to meet in the Prem, even as a RS. So my concern would be it could hurt his confidence racing in the Prem so early in his career, I can't see any negatives to waiting till 2027? Now this is no slight on Cooper, there's no reason why a 15 should be expected to beat all these guys in his first season, which is the reason why I wouldn't recommend racing in the Prem, just too big a jump for me. Even if Ipswich said "no pressure, just enjoy yourself" no-one likes to lose each time, plus why wouldn't Ipswich use the best RS possible? Last time they overlooked Kemp & Rowe for Joe T, didn't work out (till they signed Dan). If he does sign, I hope I'm proved wrong & he does well, I just can't help but think would Boughen have been better taking one step at a time & don't want Cooper to follow suit.

I was thinking back to Screen & Loram, then remembered Lambert started in the top flight. Although interestingly both Loram & Lambert rode in the second division soon after riding in the first division. Screen & Bridger are the ones who stayed in the top league for most of their careers.

I think it's too early for him, should concentrate on Champ & National leagues next season before stepping up imo. I know every rider is different, but didn't do Bridger or Boughen much good racing top league racing as soon as they were 16. Who was the last 16 year old in the top league who excelled?

I'm gonna side with Colsimmo58 on this one. While I agree it's not ideal signing a rider who was always available, the fact Nagel signed after the season started so missed matches he'd already agreed to can't be avoided. I'd say a far bigger farces would be the riders who were injured on GB, while for in Poland, or Klindt who picked & chose his Plymouth matches without receiving a ban. Can't be easy finding a replacement who wouldn't miss any matches, look at Redcar, Riss has been missing since June, I'd argue using guests for more than half of the season (fixture wise) is a bigger farce than signing a rider who missed some matches.

Looking at the scores either Howarth or Dan T could've partnered Harris in heat 15. But once Howarth ran a last, I was quite surprised Cami used him in heat 16. With Harris finishing 3rd in heat 16, even if Dan had won the race, Poole still become champs. Of course we'll never know what would've happened with Dan on the first bend, could he have made a difference?

have to disagree with forever blue & dean machine & side with you have 2 minutes. if referees only make a decision when there's a faller, that only encourages riders to lay it down & penalises riders who try to stay on. Mind you there was an exclusion in the SON2 I think? I rider lifted on the first bend, avoided everyone & got excluded!

should the referee have excluded Howarth then? I notice people are blaming Howarth, but not mentioning the referee?

You say the team is 1.4 over the limit, but also comment that Rew for Doyle or Emil makes the team weaker (obviously). But it would be very hard to avoid having a weaker team (of the rules stay the same). Rew for one of the top 2 would still leave a very strong looking team imo.

Most of the comments defending the track seems to be suggesting Poole could either have a track that allows passing or a track that allows them to win easier. Is it not possible to have both, do the Poole promotion not think their riders are good enough to win on a track that allows passing? I'm not saying make the track designed for Bomber, but if Poole riders can't pass either, what if Glasgow gated better? I would've thought a track that allows for no passing takes away the home advantage cause anyone can win? Were Poole just extremely confident they had the best gaters / knew the best set-up to get round the first bend in front?