szkocjasid

BSN should be the priority to finish first, with so few league fixtures they shouldn't be concerned with completing them before the end of August, should be easy to do.

He'd be a good signing with 4.2 available for a final rider, but I suspect Birmingham will be well under the limit, so not looking for reserves.

Not a fan of having the riders championship early, means riders are picked for their 2024 form not 2025. For example Tate Zischke could end up being one of the top riders in the league but miss out on the CRC because of his starting average.

Poole wouldn't have entered under those circumstances. If the Premiership wants 8 teams in the Cup, this is how it had to be done.

Totally agree with you. Hasn't ridden 10 consecutive seasons in his career, let alone with the same club.

The only way Poole could build a competitive side without using Premiership riders would be to include Robert Lambert & Scott Nicholls for example. Anyway there's no reason other riders would be "cup tied" guests are allowed in the league, KOC & play-offs. Don't see why Poole borrowing riders is any less credible?

Would be good if the Poole KOC side was a mixture of this year & next year's team, rather than a team of guests. For example (rumoured line-ups) Sheffield 1. J Holder 2. A Rowe 3. C Holder 4. J Pickering 5. T Woffinden 6. D Gilkes 7. L Flint Poole 1. M Janowski 2. Z Cook 3. R Lawson 4. T Brennan 5. B Cook 6. L Kerr 7. V Foord Would these teams not pull in a big crowd?

But every Ipswich rider races for other clubs, not sure how Brennan riding for Poole in the KOC is a great risk? Could just as easily get injured riding in Poland or even guesting for a play-off rival in the Premiership.

I would've like to have seen an effort made into limiting guests or at least teams not being able to strengthen themselves with a use of guest. But they'd never vote for that in case it hurts their own team.

I did wonder if Berwick/ Edinburgh / Workington would find it easier to sign 2.00 reserves, they've shown with Hodder / James / McGurk how patient they are with riders. Whereas a reserve going to Poole or Glasgow could suspect they could get dropped more easily (like Perry & Pijper).

Before opening to read the post, my first thought was Dave Lanning.

Lynn could then put their 3rd & 4th best riders out in heat 15 & save their best two for an easier superheat (if the rule was riders couldn't go in 15 & superheat). Be more interesting tactically.

Probably means allowing guests when riders are racing in Poland with no bans?

I would say Brennan, Dan T, Ellis, Sayfutdinov & Jenkins could all be expected to up their averages. Can't see any team getting close to them over the regular season tbh.

He's a favourite of Schroeck, plus a fair second string.

It wasn't done to strengthen Leicester, but to get under the points limit. Everyone knows Leicester will be weaker next year.

If the Cook rumour is true? Would be a strong top end & always have a decent reserve. I know Hodder is rumoured to be at Glasgow, but I'd like to think he'd be loyal to Berwick if they wanted him back? Craig Cook 8.42 Rory Schlein 8.08 Drew Kemp 6.46 Jye Etheridge 4.98 Danyon Hume 4.87 Bastien Borke 4.84 Freddie Hodder 2.00 Total 39.65

If he's reliable then he should be a fantastic reserve, if he doesn't do what's expected of him, just drop him for another 4 point rider, but worth the risk if you want to win the league imo.

Last season they didn't seem to want Riss at reserve, practically said the bonus of dropping Kemp for Killeen was to have a "solid top 5", I always thought strong reserve was more important? I'm sure Riss too has said he wants to be in the top 5, which can be achieved by scoring more points obviously.

People need to remember the low points limit, it's very hard to have a 5 point reserve, a 4 point reserve with potential to improve would be a strong reserve now. Even saw on the Workington page, someone saying Connor Bailey wasn't a strong enough reserve, don't know what points limit they were planning on lol! If Wright signs for a team, would have to be as a second string.

There was a rule, but a different rule to the Prem. For example Adam Roynon (I believe William Lawson too) averaged below 3 but stayed on 3.00. I believed it was once you had averaged over 3 you couldn't drop below it. Maybe the rule has since been dropped? Unless my memory fails me & they both averaged exactly 3.00?

You also have to factor in, who Schroeck will drop throughout the season to make his team weaker, when in with a chance of the play-offs 😏

Even if Doyle does take a while to get back to his best, that will not harm Ipswich in the slightest. In the play-offs era there is less risk brining a rider back from a long term injury, especially in this case as Ipswich will certainly be in the top 4.

Too many Cook's lol! I'd rate King & Ellis above Z Cook & Blodorn. But not a massive difference.

These riders won't all be in the Aces team though, if Belle Vue have Bewley / Kurtz / Lidsey as heat leaders, they can't have Cook as a second string, unless there's no Blodorn. As a neutral, Doyle & Sayfutdinov best top 2 and I fancy the Witches as having stronger second strings. Also Witches have the better RS, even if Cairns signs. I expect Belle Vue to make the top 4, but Witches to top the qualifiers fairly easily. But over 2 legs in the play-offs anything can happen.