Islander15

An honest an open post these Malcolm. I'll make one particular point and I understand that a lot of times when clubs talk to riders that its not in the interests of the club or the rider to make that public, but seeing as you have commented on it so shall I. From an outsiders point of view it looks surprising that Priest has missed out. So imo to give a viable alternative, to accommodate Priest, you'd have to have not signed one of your heat leaders. Wilson takes up a lot of points but several big hitters from last year are missing so I expect him to average around that figure, or drop by no more than 0.5 anyway. The other alternative could've been Lambert at 1 on 9.46 and Priest but maybe Len Silver specifically wanted him at Kent. I'm sure if you asked any Islanders fans who their most consistent rider has been since we've gone NL & they'd all say Ben Hopwood! He won't necessarily add a lot to his average but you can guarantee it won't drop by much either, and wherever he rides he will be in the points. Maybe a slightly biased view but I think he's a good signing. Then we're left with Jon Armstrong. I understand that he's the older head to ride alongside a relative newbie at reserve but both Bens have experience, Wilson has ridden PL & EL and Hopwood was IOW captain last year so I would expect those pair to be able to pass on their expertise anyway. As with the other 2 I can't see a dramatic drop (but I do expect a drop) in Jon's average. And to be successful you need improvement in averages, and with all 3 likely to end on similar figures there's suddenly a lot of pressure on Payne and the bottom 3 to improve. So I would've gone for a lower averaged rider than Jon with more potential, and by signing Priest it leaves 7.23. The obvious candidate to me is Liam Carr who I'm amazed hasn't signed for the 'big 2' of Dudley & Mildenhall as I'm sure he'll average over 8 next year, pushing 9. But similarly I'm surprised he wasn't signed last year, and travelling expenses were reported so I assume the same applies. Or Benji Compton, he seems to ride Stoke well and he didn't seem to dominate at Kent to I'm surprised he's back.

Blackbird is 4.81 because he has a GB reduction.

Very strong number 1. Only 10.11 left for their bottom 3 which means no Luke Priest, yet I would've thought on 4.75 that he'd be one of the first names!

But he hasn't signed for a PL team! He can ride PL & NL as long as he doesn't have a PL team at the start of the season.

Not really, which is why I asked. I assumed it would be oli Greenwood but obviously he's not going to sign for 2 Friday tracks.

Who's going to be at reserve is the more intriguing question... Any ideas?

Yeah as you and others have alluded to. You can ride NL if your average is below 4.00 & you START the season in the PL, and can continue riding NL if you sign for a PL team during the season and your average is below 5.00. Stefan is 4.70 so he can sign for a PL team after the start of the season and carry on. Brundle was mentioned & he had to league the NL as his PL average was 5.14 I think.

Credit where it's due. The top 5 looked alright to good, but with Freemantle at reserve it's become very good! Good luck Brandon

Brendan Johnson has signed too! 4.33 left for 1 rider.

Pretty sure Lambert and Owen will retain their averages from 2011 so they are on 9.46 and 5.33 respectively. The top 5 announced gives you 6.44 for the reserves. Unless one of your reserves is Freemantle, it's a mid table team for me. There's no stand out rider for improvement and I think Kingston will be a bit miss, in regards to upping his average as will Coles.

Ooh Steen Jensen returns!

Great signing and looking a strong team so far!

That team has 1.47 left. Ben would do a good job! Brandon Freemantle would be a very good signing & is fairly local. What about Coles Nikko? Alternatively you could go for a big number 1 again, like Mills (on 9.98 I think).

http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.23450

By dropping Dan does it suggest that you're changing strategy and not going with Dan & a 3.00, ie not a 3.00 at all?? Maybe someone like Nathan Stoneman or Coles. That's just me playing devils advocate before I get the same complaints as the Mildenhall thread.

I only mentioned what was reported by a journalist, which was he's to be offered terms and Phil you favourited the tweet I got it from! In other news Mountain signs.

I've seen it mentioned by a local news reporter that he is to be offered terms and the team is to be complete by christmas.

You wouldn't say that if it was your club.

The first point has been reported in the press & the second is because Nielsen has a PL average over 4.00 so if he's signed by a PL team he can't double-up.

Phillips & Mountain are going to be at reserve so that leaves 10.37 for 2 riders. And Nielsen cant ride NL next year.

So the original team was going to look like: 1. 7.53 2. Dan Greenwood 5.76 3. Tom Perry 6.30 4. Max Clegg 6.27 5. Steve Worrall 7.09 6. Nathan Greaves 4.00 7. Brady Kurtz 3.00 I expect the title to go to Cradley anyway but, that team would have wiped the floor more than this years did! A final team average over 50.00 wouldn't have surprised me.

1. Joe Jacobs 8.71 2. Luke Crang 4.78 3. Oliver Greenwood 6.89 4. Dan Greenwood 5.74 5. James Sarjeant 7.38 6. 3.00 7. James Shanes 3.46 Thoughts?

Whether air fences make it safer or not, that is the rule and that's what needs paying for!

After today's AGM the club withdrew from the league, BUT have until January 31st to rejoin. They need £20k for a new air fence and have so far raised just over £9k, so a lot to do, but speedway community don't let this club fold! It may be the team that I support, but surely losing any side is disastrous, so dig deep please. http://www.gofundme.com/iow-air-fence DONATE!!!!!

Withdrawn from the league but able to rejoin by January 31st. SO you know what to do http://www.gofundme.com/iow-air-fence DONATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!