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Best rider I can see for Workington's last rider would be Jake Mulford, but I'm guessing he'll be back at Redcar, so Jacob Hook would be my next pick. Unless they find a suitable 4.00 newcomer.

I don't want to discriminate because of age. If he wants to try & make it as a rider, he has every right to. Same as 30 somethings Luke Crang or Jason Garrad etc.

If you read Peter Schroeck's comments about Riss, he thinks he's good enough to be a number one. If everyone was a positive as Peter, you'd wouldn't be worrying about not having a number one lol! Can't find the link to share / quote from, darn!

There's loads of 3 point riders who guested in the NDL or rode in Nora matches to fill reserve spaces if needed: Owen Booth, Max Broadhurst, Billy Budd, Josh Couzins, Kieran Douglas, Jacob Fellows, Lee Harrison, Nathan Hargrave, Wayne Hutt, Chris Laidlaw, James Laker, Rhys Laker, Nick Laurence, Eli Meadows, Sam Ward, Morgan Williams, Charlie Wood & Sam Woods.

Those two points don't really clash though? What has someone wondering how the averages work got to do with riders getting track time? You can be very happy riders are getting opportunities whilst still curious about averages.

Would've preferred 6 man teams (5 rides each). Also a tad surprised Kent didn't enter both competitions. Wonder what the plan is if Lynn don't enter, will a league team go into the trophy? Delighted that riders will get more fixtures, well done to all the teams taking part, especially Championship ones as this fills some blank dates in the fixture list.

I wondered that to.

The fans can make it viable by turning up in the same numbers they do for Championship fixtures. Here's hoping they do.

I agree, brilliant post

Paco was a heat leader last year (3rd in Monarchs averages) although rode in a second string spot. If Kyle & Lasse are of a similar ability, why does Paco have such a higher average (than Lasse especially)? I know it makes sense in Speedway terms (with the points limit), but it must sound odd to a non fan if you said "it would be good to have Paco back, just not on that average" then you'd have to explain to them why you'd want Paco back if he performed poorer last season, but as he did much better you don't want him back lol!

Thorsell very nearly qualified for the GP though. Certainly can be good on his day.

I think he's better than Schroeck & Ermolenko.

Of course I omitted Fellows' scores, they weren't relevant to my post. I was commenting on previous posts suggesting 5 riders each was better for development & someone thinking "surely teams wouldn't give one reserve more rides & one 3 rides only". Oxford didn't break any rules & were entitled to do what they did, my comment was based solely on riders being taken out of rides, to answer the previous posts.

Catching up on my old Speedway Stars & here's some interesting comments by Peter Schroeck after the KOC semi final against Redcar, especially in light of Boughen leaving Oxford. "All the boys got stuck in on Friday. Last time (there) we didn't have Ashton Boughen, who is phenomenal, he loves it around Redcar. Ashton's background isn't from speedway but in the early training days I could immediately see that he had determination and a clever racing brain. I don't take too much credit for it but I have worked quite hard with him and he is loyal, so I'd like to work with him for years to come. He's got some good guys around him in the team, which is important. Having only been in the sport for two-and-a-half years, it's a hell of a task riding at No. 3 but he has been awesome over our last few meetings."

I think Foord would be better off taking RS guest bookings & hoping for an RS spot if someone loses form. If he signed at 6 for Sheffield, then that opportunity would be gone. If he has a good season then bound to get an RS spot in 2026 you'd think?

Does that mean the teams & rules for the NDL have been decided then? Certainly be interesting to see who the Spires & Cheetahs have lined up, more question marks than other clubs have.

2023 at Oxford Jacob Fellows had 2 home matches, 3 rides in each. Luke Killeen took 6 rides in one & Sam Woods 5 rides in the other. Away from home 3 rides in one match, got 5 in the other when Killeen got injured. Fellows then got dropped before getting a fifth match. That's a prime example of a rider who would've benefitted from getting a minimum of 5 rides per match.

Don't need special dispensation, I'm sure when Nicholls is fit, he'd have plenty of teams looking to strengthen up. Any easing if the rules would be to Oxford's benefit rather than Scott's I reckon.

The same thing could be said of Tobias Thomsen & look how good he turned out to be. Of course he's been riding in Denmark, not sure how much Keleher races in Aussie.

If Poole went with 2 x 2.00 riders I'd agree with you, but if the other reserve is Thomsen the new 2 pointer would know he's leaving (of Cairns has signed for Poole).

I'd disagree that it was a "no brainer" firstly I'd want Brennan & probably happy to let Rew go, but he's still gonna get better so while he's not stronger than King or Ellis now, he could be by the end of the season? Probably fancy Witches for the title whoever they picked out of King / Ellis / Rew, so best drop the one who's most expensive / has the least air fares etc.

I think the Sheffield team looks "lopsided" with a weak number 6, but they do have one of the better number 7s. Even with his disappointing season at Birmingham, Flint is still one of the best "rising stars" before any improvement he may find? As many people expected more of him (Leon included no doubt) he isn't looked on as a great signing, but I'd want him in the team ahead of most of the other "rising stars". It certainly makes next season interesting to see how the likes of Sheffield & Lynn fare with their team building being completely opposite.

I think Rowe will do better than many are expecting, but even if he does only score his starting average (3.9) it'll take a long time to lower his rolling average down from above 5. If Sheffield make changes most likely to be if someone like Vinnie Foord became a superstar & overtook Hume with his Champ scoring?

KK could score maximums at home, so much be considered a better signing than Milik or Pawlicki were. If Zagar drops to reserve, which would take longer than a month with rolling / assessed averages, then Brummies will have a title challenging team.

As I always do, I base predictions on confirmed signings so far so: 1. Ipswich 2. Sheffield 3. Leicester 4. King's Lynn 5. Birmingham 6. Oxford 7. Belle Vue