Islander15

What a ridiculous statement to make! Are you seriously saying that if Cradley had have moved up this year, like they wanted to, that Buxton would have gone bust? How many years were Buxton running before Dudley even appeared?? They just work with stricter constraints, sometimes that means poorer septets but, like this year by the looks of things, sometimes the continuity provides good looking teams! And another thing that you'll soon come to realise is that the NL is effectively regarded as completely separate to the EL and PL, so where you go blaming the BSPA for late fixtures it's essentially nothing to do with them and all down to Mr Morrish to co-ordinate. Nothing that I'm aware of on Jan 13th and the AGM was held in Decemberin 2013 as well as last year! They have at least 1 riding PL.

It's already been said by either a NL promoter or a NL team manager (you can probably guess the two I'm thinking of, but I can remember which one it was!) that that rule has NOT changed for this year. That was after it was asked if Bowen could DU of which he can't and he's not Rye's number 1.

It has nothing to do with whether he has a PL average or not. The rule about age is just that: a rule about age, regardless of whether averages fit or not.

I assume you haven't seen it mate. All 10 are in the Cup and Stoke are in the preliminary round against Rye and then face a quarter-final against Cradley. If they overcome both of those it's a semi-final against Mildenhall, King's Lynn or Buxton.

But it's the men in charge at individual clubs that have made mistakes with paperwork, along with unlawful guest, loan and doubling-up rules, which is the BSPA, as I understood it.

Todd does so I assume Brady does also. Heeps does as well don't forget.

Any chance of Adam riding PL? As an EU rider of course

He certainly isn't 16! Last season I think he was about 24 so 26 for next season will probably be correct. Yes this is a problem as you cannot double-up at over 25, hence why Simon Lambert can't this year and why Rye were going to have Bowen lead the NL team this year but have realised they can't

I agree, but why the delay? What do Rye gain from it? Your own supported are now questioning if you're even running, which I'm sure you are btw.

Just because there won't be a lot of enthusiasm doesn't mean there won't be none and there should be no effort put it to entice the crowd. Atm it looks a possibility that Rye could end up with a team of newbies with most of the leading lights at other clubs or rumoured to not be in the league for one reason or another. Fans realise that it may take a few training sessions to find the right bottom end but not the top, and they need those top men to make the team competitive.

Agreed, but then at the opposite end of the scale, you must admit that approaching late January and no rider announced at all (the only one mooted looks ineligible) isn't going to create optimism within the supporters.

It wasn't just the once that he didn't turn up for an away meeting, I remember him doing it a couple of times for the Isle of Wight. One occasion springs to mine at Mildenhall where Niall Strudwick took his spot for the day.

Haha I was waiting until we know all the riders. Like I think Buxton's 5 can beat Rye's 0 but if builderbob is right and Eastbourne finish above Cradley I'll have to do some kind of forfeit

I thought Tabaka but it suggests he's ex-Plymouth to me. Morris and Holder would fit though.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Plymouth-Devils-hope-wrap-new-signing-days/story-25798103-detail/story.html Who's the injured rider he's referring to?

Do you know how old Watts is?

Tom got announced as the fourth name and Liam won't be fit in time.

Teams like Storm have 2 ideas: to find riders for the Bees and to be competitive enough to attract fans. If the first was the sole reason then I'd suggest that Farnaby and Ritchings wouldn't have signed as they aren't Coventry assets.

Nielsen is ineligible, Bates is apparently not doing NL this year and Carr is injured.

He doesn't fit. I expect it to be Crang or the reserve.

Yes this is a strong team and, along with Cradley, look the frontrunners in the league. From an unbiased view, and having seen a lot of NL racing (Look at my sig): Ellis will be one of, if not the, best rider in the league. He's only had 1 full NL season but still managed 8.90 with the Islanders and I expect him to push on towards a 10 average, if not creeping into the low 10s. Perry completes probably the strongest top 2 in the league and he's been around a couple of years now to know the tracks and be able to establish himself as a real force and will be bteer than many other teams number 1s. It was only 2 years ago that he averaged 9.88 when the league was stronger than it is now and when he works out how to pass at Perry Barr I can see him averaging around 9. This may only be Chapman's second season but he ended it last year at number 1 for Scunthorpe and was set for a maximum in his last meeting but for a fall, and that was after he guested in the PL meeting and took an almighty fall in heat 2 when he got ran over! The knack to winning teams at this level riders that are progressing quick and Sam falls into this category. I can see him adding near to 2 points. Zach has been ready for the NL for a year or 2 now but his age has ruled him out until 2015. He's definitely one of GB's better prospects, proven by his success on the world stage at junior levels, and it may take him a little while to get up to speed with league racing (having done no or little MDL) but when he does he'll be one of the best 3 pointers in the league and I see his average, nearly doubling. Wilson has shown his promise in MDL appearances last season and Scunthorpe's winter series and has beaten established riders such as Danny Phillips (Cradley last year, now Stoke) and Tom Woolley (Buxton). Again I expect him to be one of the better 3 men and average around 4 to 5. Banks rode a handful of times last season for Devon and scored a repsectable number of points. I expect him to be the 'weakest' of the three newbies but anyone with motocross background knows how to gate! Though, along with Zach and Wilson, as there is an abnormally high number of 3 pointers in the leageu this year it'll only help all 3 to settle in. It also looks a very entertaining team. One thing you will notce with the youngsters is how much they progress over a campaign and 5, with maybe Perry apart, fit into the category of fast improving! Ellis, Perry and Zach are racers too so don't turn up expecting gate and go!

Clegg is a number 1 capable of beating anybody and I expect him to average nearly 10 and Greaves isn't too far behind ability-wise but I think this season he might beat the number 1 in one race but struggle in the next so he'll average just into the 8s. Ellis will be another heat leader and nearly triple his average in the mid 8s which will let Matt have a season of consolidation and push his average to the low to mid 7s. Arron will beat the 3.00 riders and surprise a few more to add nearly a point also I think he may have a month at reserve at some point alongside Harris or Neale. Neale will benefit with Clegg in the team and average mid 5s with Harris struggling at a new track at first, but after the first set of averages when Ellis may well go straight to number 1, he'll be at reserve and end up on a figure close to Phillips this year. So that gives them a team average of 47 to 49 when they're facing Birmingham in the Gold Cup final with the league trophy in the bag.

I'm guessing from the thumbs up that you approve??

Following on from what Dean has said, that's why I think you should have one rider who can relate to fans in your team. I'm talking generally here but one rider who rides like anything other than Wolbert for Glasgow, isn't going to make a league winning team a losing one but they can make a losing one appear at least like they're trying for their club and for the fans.

If Brendan had have ridden for Rye, you would know how friendly and open to fan interaction he is.