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Poole must expect him to score points, you don't sign a rider 6 months in advance unless you think he's going to be a "superstar". They also signed two temporary 2.00 riders till he was old enough, you don't do that unless you think Cairns is the best 2 pointer around (he could still be). You also can't blame fans for having high expectations for the very same reasons above. As for tonight, Oxford have strong reserves, so Cairns isn't performing badly, just riding like a 16 year old in his first season against a solid team.

Zach's August average would make him a heat leader at the following clubs: Edinburgh, Oxford, Plymouth, Poole, Redcar, Scunthorpe & Workington!

Fancis Gusts too. 3.00 Prem average allowed him to sign for Oxford in the Champ on a 4.50 converted ave. Doing all they can to help British riders (not)!

Harrison could go in any heat if he's taken out of heat 4, could even replace an under performing rider (instead of Klindt) for his 3rd ride. I don't really see the advantage of him finishing his rides by heat 8 tbh, gotta have 3 rides at some point, never really understood the "get his rides out of the way" plan. Also if Harrison gets his 3 rides early, then the number 3 & 4 riders, can't be replaced by Klindt in 12 or 14 if he is going better - he'd be in the race with them. So a weaker rider could be getting 4 rides, unless Klindt replaces them in their 3rd ride. Because Lynn have such a solid team, the manager won't know who's only getting 3 rides till well into the match, that's why I would opt for more flexibility (using Klindt in 4)! I'd say it's a specific Lynn strategy, not many teams have a reserve you expect to get 5,6,7 rides a match.

Nice to have a bit of loyalty from club & rider though. When's the last time a rider got a testimonial for 10 years at the same club?

I don't think that's been in doubt for a few years now! If Ben is serious about becoming a works star, then needs to leave the Champ behind. If he just wants to earn a living, then could come back.

It depends on how the riders are going, if Fricke & Masters are unbeatable, then Klindt may score more in every heat except heats 13 & 15. Also it could be that Klindt scores 10 from his programmed rides, the next best two score 9 from their programmed rides, the rest score 3 or 4. In this situation, giving Klindt heat 15 would mean a rider who scored 9 only getting his 4 rides, while a rider who scored 4 gets his 4th ride as Klindt is being saved for heat 15! That's the basis of my thinking, if a high scoring reserve is one of your top 3 riders, the only way to ensure all of your top 3 get an extra ride is not to use the reserve in heat 15. If it turns out Klindt is the only Star capable of beating the Lions top 2, then yes out him in 13+15, otherwise I stand by my original idea.

Why not do both, predict what the team manager can do to give his team the best chance of winning, then enjoy the racing if you're at the event / watching online?

If Klindt is on an 18 point maximum after 6 rides, then of course I would use him in heat 15. My plan however would be to use him earlier, ideally to avoid 3 or 4 on the trot. Potentially use him in heat 4 for Harrison? This would also leave more options later on, depending who is on form?

Statistically you shouldn't want a reserve getting his 7th ride in heat 15. If Klindt is the best Star & gets 7 rides before heat 15, then the 2nd & 3rd best riders get an extra ride. If Klindt is in heat 15, the 3rd best rider doesn't get an extra ride.

Interesting to look at the top 4s home & away averages: Pickering 9.95 / 6.00 J Holder 9.40 / 8.28 C Holder 8.09 / 6.58 Rowe 6.21 / 4.00 The dropped riders are obviously not home specialists! Kerr 5.33 / 5.33 Sedgmen 2.88 / 4.43 Even if Morris & Etheridge prove to be stronger, Sheffield will need to rest to up their away form if they want to win the league!

I guess for your first point Berwick had a number one who wasn't turning up so can understand their choice of signing, while Sheffield didn't have time to see if Morris found form due to the cut-off date. Totally agree with everything in the second part of your post.

Well they're hardly going to do it after the cut-off are they? At least they've given Kerr & Sedgmen time to fund form, but decided it wasn't gonna get any better!

If any rider retires or gets injured after the 75% match point, only guests r/r allowed. As with many rules it's brought in for a reason (stop someone signing just for the play-offs) but causes issues in other scenarios (wanting to replace a genuinely injured rider, but having to use guests instead).

The fact that people would readily believe it's true, shows the faith they have in Schroeck's management. If I had read that about Middlo or Pete Adams, I'd automatically think "it's a joke" so someone got the wrong end of the stick. I found this very easy to believe, based on the many daft decisions Schroeck's made over the last couple of years.

In this situation, wouldn't call it a risk, Trigger has a similar rolling ave to Smith, so they're not basing a change on 1 match. When Glasgow signed Hodder based on 1 good match, when he averaged well below 2.00 all season, sounds more like the scenario you're suggesting. I'd also say Berwick wouldn't be making the signing based on 1 match, because they wouldn't be expecting scores like that every week. Just signing a 3.5 rider, hoping he can reach 4.0? Currently Smith is a 3.5 rider who's dropped below 3.0. Doesn't seem a risk to me.

Had a quick look at the 2025 averages Hagon 3.84 (4.16) Smith 2.76 (3.20) Trigger 3.60 (4.53) This won't show any guest appearances, but shows Trigger was not poor for Plymouth (he upped his starting average) but was dropped because the team on the whole was weak. If Berwick have play-offs aspirations, then Trigger for Smith is a signing they need to make imo

Especially with Glasgow having the weakest reserves (on paper) in the league. Both have upped their averages, but would still look like Tigers weak link. Last night was a impressive by them, Tigers fans will be delighted, but Bandits fans would've been expecting Smith to have the better of them. While play-offs are still possible, I'd give Trigger a shot.

It can change each week, but Workington already had 2 points deducted, so weren't favourites for a top 4 spot (at least in my opinion) so a home defeat was very costly for them. I rated Berwick's chances higher, especially since their changes & a great result at Glasgow, all undone by dropping points at home in the return leg. All the teams bar Scunthorpe & Plymouth can still make the play-offs, but I feel a gap has appeared below the "top 4" & challengers.

Perhaps make the rule clubs don't get a "facility" when a rider races abroad, clubs would have to choose between a rider who puts GB first, or risk having to use a 75% guest all the time?

Have to agree, Klindt doesn't get a ban because Plymouth don't mind being weakened! Turns out their guest did well, but doesn't sit right with me.

Only about 3 points over the points limit lol!

Yeah agree, I'd have Hagon at 2.

With Workington, Berwick & Oxford having a poor day, think the top 4 looks to be, Poole, Glasgow, Edinburgh & Redcar.

If Plymouth aren't allowed a guest for Klindt, would be not get a 28 day ban then?