szkocjasid

If it's a 38 point limit? Rory Schlein 8.08 Leon Flint 6.68 Drew Kemp 6.46 Alfie Bowtell 5.07 Danyon Hume 4.87 Bastien Borke 4.84 Freddie Hodder 2.00 Total 38.00

Depends how many league matches they have left. If they planned it so they had only 5 league matches left (plus BSN, KOC & play-offs) Cairns could still be on a 2.00 average for 2026!

How can this happen in a "professional" sport, surely you'd double check figures when planning teams?

Dan can easily pick & choose his clubs, he'll be in high demand in both leagues. Joe may not have the same options & if he turns down a club could be left without a ride.

You talk a lot of sense, however I think Scott will be one of the strongest 2.00 riders next year, so these worries won't come into fruition. All the reasons you gave are why Archie Freeman shouldn't have been Newcastle's reserve years ago, rather than a top NDL rider imo. Biggest downside of Scott remaining in the NDL & picking up Champ guest bookings is the lack of fixtures in the third tier.

For this reason I find it very surprising that Cairns has a Champ team lined up already. Why would any 2.00 rider sign for Poole, knowing they will be dropped? In this case I don't think Mulford is one of the better "rising stars", so don't see him upping his average much. But even if he doesn't, will it be a risk putting Cairns in to the top division so early in his career?

But what about the Polish leagues, their clubs have to include 2 x Polish juniors in all divisions, seems to work very well for them if you look at their success at junior level. The RS system is just a (much) smaller version of that. If anything this system should being riders on more as if they're good enough they'll move into the top 5 (Brennan, Rowe, Dan T for example). The Polish juniors stay at reserve all year. I don't think it's anything to do with lack of riders, just wanting to give young Brits a chance.

Sedgmen averaged 5.82 from 5 matches for Brum, but his rolling ave is only 4.79. If his average went down it must be because he dropped some high scoring matches from his rolling ave, not because he was poor for Birmingham. Based on these figures, he'd be a great signing.

If it's a 40 point limit Dan Gilkes fits as 7th rider. If it's a 38 limit then Ben Trigger or Ace Pijper?

Who would you have at reserve instead of Scott? While he may not score lots of points doesn't mean there will be any stronger 2.00 options available. One thing Oxford have shown is their willingness to give youngsters team spots in all their sides.

Good signing

You really want all teams to be competitive, if there are not heat leaders available to replace the likes of Pickering, Brennan & Ben Cook, then bringing in more riders from the NDL & dropping the points limit is the best way to go.

Surely he'd have been at 6. Unless Oxford were hoping for Jenkins, Boughen & Killeen?

Strange how they didn't know he'd be eligible, from the first year it was introduced riders could "graduate" then drop back down (unless my memory fails me). Totally agree with your last point, I see no reason for a ranking system, just allow clubs to pick the "rising stars" the same way they do the rest of the team.

I think Rowe won't be far worse than Howarth, but they have the advantage of his 25% reduction, which makes him a great signing. The biggest concern for me would be Gilkes at 6, he wasn't great at 7 last year, so could easily see him dropping a point from his average. Tough team to call as the top 4 is VERY strong.

I'd say Sheffield's 3&4 are far stronger than Ipswich's. But Dan T vs Gilkes is a massive advantage for the Witches. I'm a big fan of Rowe, think he'll do fine in the top 5 for Sheffield.

Who would you have picked instead?

I think Edwards is very underrated & a good RS choice. The fact he rode at 6 last year & now drops to 7 should mean more points can be expected. Still not sure I would've let Flint go though. The Speedway conundrum, drop a rider as he's been poor for you only to see him improve elsewhere.

The Spires won very few bonus points, but the Cheetahs won nearly all of them, so do Oxford have a strong home advantage or not?

Flint might get there, but doesn't seem too likely at his current rate of progression.

Years ago that would've been the case, but there were only 13 riders with an average over 8 last season. With 9 clubs there should be 27 heat leaders.

38 point limit: Richard Lawson 9.17 An Other 8.08 Zach Cook 6.23 Anders Rowe 6.11 Tobias Thomsen 4.41 Tom Spencer 2.00 Max James 2.00 40 point limit: Richard Lawson 9.17 An Other 8.18 Zach Cook 6.23 Anders Rowe 6.11 Tobias Thomsen 4.41 Vinnie Foord 3.90 Max James 2.00 For the second heat leader spot former Poole riders Kevin Wolbert, Steve Worrall, Rory Schlein & Danny King all fit.

2024 averages of the 2025 "rising stars" Leon Flint 3.66 (4.55) Jordan Jenkins 3.65 (4.83) Jason Edwards 3.55 (4.23) Ashton Boughen 2.74 (3.13) Luke Killeen 2.61 (3.83) Sam Hagon 1.77 (2.31) Jake Mulford 1.63 (2.07) RS not picked Dan Gilkes 3.31 (4.05) Joe Thompson 2.17 (2.33) Looking at these stats, it's surprising Belle Vue & Leicester chose to protect their "rising stars" plenty of stronger options available. Even more surprising Flint & Jenkins weren't picked up sooner. Edwards actually looks a good choice as he rode at 6 all season, then Jenkins as he rode half the season at 6. While many say Joe Thompson was no where near RS standard & I got laughed at for suggesting he ride for Leicester, statistically he did better than Hagon!

If Cairns is in line to be Belle Vue's "rising star" when he turns 16, is that not harsh of Belle Vue to protect their use of Mulford? If Belle Vue have already decided Mulford is only getting half a season, would it not be fair to allow him to sign for another team & potentially get a full season? No guarantee someone else would've picked him, on which case Belle Vue would've got him anyway.

Nothing unlucky about it, it was their choice, if they've made the wrong pick, they can only blame themselves.