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1. Ipswich 2. Leicester 3. Sheffield 4. Belle Vue 5. King's Lynn 6. Northampton

Looking at the scores, I felt every rider, except Holder & Cairns could be happy with their scores. Not counting Blodorn who got injured, so both teams can be positive for the season ahrad.

My predictions 1. Glasgow 2. Poole 3. Oxford 4. Edinburgh 5. Plymouth 6. Berwick 7. Redcar 8. Workington 9. Scunthorpe Found this a tough prediction to make, apart from Scunthorpe think any other team could make the top 4. Glasgow look to have a strong top end & have been clever with their reserves riding in "lower" positions than last year, so both should see average improvement. Poole don't look as impressive as in previous years, but Rushen could prove to be a masterstroke if he lives up to the hype. Oxford have the best heat leader trip, plus 2 second strings who have a lot of potential. Reserve strength could stop them winning trophies though. Edinburgh look a good team to me, think their reserves will add to their averages, as will Dan & Kye. If the other 3 can maintain their averages, I'll predict play-offs. Plymouth look stronger than in recent years, if Klima can prove to be a trump card, then play-offs well within their reach. Berwick's heat leader trip look very decent, Etheridge could be a 4th heat leader at home (not away), but don't rate their reserves that highly. Redcar appear to be missing back up for Wright / Klindt. Whoever is at reserve should score well, which keeps them mid table, but don't think they are quite as strong as teams above them. Workington on paper, look great at the top, but sadly Cook appears a risk, will he last the season? One of the weaker reserve pairings for me. Scunthorpe clearly looks the weakest team to me, can see heavy defeats away from home. Need to wave the magic wand with Pickering's new average, to avoid the wooden spoon.

While I totally agree any criticism of a rider after ONE meeting is ridiculous, fans can't be blamed for expecting big things from Cairns as he was picked over others riders currently stronger than him. Joe T, Harrison & Mulford all had greater Champ aves & may well have been stronger RS options. So for Belle Vue to choose him ahead of them, means they expect Cairns to be stronger than them (at least by the end of the season) so by that logic fans may expect more (but not based on ONE meeting). Also if a young rider wants to progress at their own rate without any pressure, maybe don't join a club like Poole who expect to win everything & don't ride in the Prem at just 16 years old?

I'm not suggesting Wright would be back in 28 days (sadly), just that Klindt only agreed to 28 days as hell be busy later on. Gives Redcar some breathing room to come up with a long term plan.

Very promising from Palovaara, Berwick could end up with a very potent heat leader trio if they all perform to their potential.

Promising result by Scunthorpe. I felt Redcar's success would rely on their reserves improving. Both rode above their averages, so that was a plus. Of course it's very early days, but don't think either are a top 4 team.

On his own FB page, Klindt said he had signed for 28 days only, but Redcar didn't mention that?

If they are looking to attract new fans to Speedway to make it a success, would Woffinden make much difference to crowds?

I'd agree 3 is no more difficult than 4. All depends on if the opponents put their 3rd heat leader at 3 or 4. Riding at 5, would certainly be more difficult, but Glasgow don't seem to change the riding order much, whoever starts at 5 tends to stay there. I suppose Flint's average should rise because he's the stronger rider in the pairing now, so could go above Howarth?

While I'd understand their concern, no-one is owned a team spot, if they were better, they'd get picked. By disappointment as a parent would be focused on all the teams that don't provide Nora or development league racing. Also there's a chance they could be picked for Mildenhall's opponents?

The first half of your post clearly explains why Nicholls would sign on his Champ converted ave. So I was surprised for you to then get it the wrong way round at the end? Nicholls most recent MA is his 2025 Plymouth one, so that's what's used - for both leagues.

I'd agree with that

Shows why the 42 limit works out, on a lower limit, a "developing" rider would've likely be frozen out of a "development" league team spot. Agree doesn't sound a great signing on his average, when it comes to winning the league - if that was the priority.

I haven't looked at the fixtures in detail, but just assumed every team picked the same week to have the later rounds of BSN & KOC competitions, so whoever goes through they'll be available the same day as their opponents?

Worked for Poole as Starke upped his average. I'd have Lambert ahead of Starke, got a higher average, spending at least half the season in the top 5, compared to Starke at reserve all year. I wasn't impressed with Lambert when I saw him last year, but his average is attractive enough to give him a chance to show last year was a one-off poor season?

Given it's a "development" league, would fans not turn up to see a weaker team, if the club were obviously building for the future?

With everything happening so late, it would probably make sense for Northampton (if they run) to start in 2027. Have a few open meetings this year in preparation. But obviously they are so desperate for a 6th Prem team, they may be letting their hearts rule their heads?

I don't mind the points limit, just keeps the level at last year, but totally agree that minimum average should have been left at 3.00

If the job of the NL is to bring on future Champ riders, then riders who can't get anywhere near Lambert won't cope in the Champ. These riders should be at the lower end of the NL, not an alternative option to the Lambert signing. If the NL was weakened further, it's be much harder for rider stepping up, how do you know if you've reached Champ standard without riding against lower Champ riders? There's a reason riders don't jump straight up from the NJL or MDL to the Champ as they'd be miles off the pace, hopefully a stronger NL bridges that gap?

I agree it's a shame after his efforts last season, but which riders would you swap to fit him in?

They've really not got the average rules right in the NDL for me. Kenzie Cossey races 4 matches as a guest so gets a new average (3.25). When they lowered the minimum average to 2.00, that could've ended his NDL carter before it started, but thankfully King's Lynn have given him a chance. Nathan Ablitt rode 3 NL matches for Steelers & 2 NT matches for Kent Eagles, but doesn't get a new average. Despite averaging 8.92 & 9.33, he'll keep his low 8.33 average for 2026. If they're so desperate to have accurate averages, that they give guests averages, why not combine NL & NT for riders who didn't ride enough meetings? It's not like they won't count NT matches at all, as any rider who doesn't have a NL average will use the NT one for 2026. I just find it bizarre that 4 matches gains you a new average, but 5 doesn't!

Kenzie Cossey got a 3.25 average from guesting last year.

I'm sure Connor Mountain is thinking like that, he got dropped for Zischke the previous year when averaging above 4.00!

I think this is a league where the old elite league fast track format would work best i.e heat leaders against heat leaders & reserves against reserves more often. I don't actually see the need for a 2.00 minimum average. The downside of the 3.00 minimum is a rider with a 3.5 average gets dropped for a 3 point rider to fit under the limit. Now it's even worse a 2.5 averaged rider could miss out because clubs need a 2 pointer. Surely someone running a 2.5 NL average should have no barriers to finding a team spot?