Islander15

6 weeks according to Kent, but the injury makes it sound like he'll be out for a longer time than that.

Eagles have finally found their number 6 superstar haha.

Eastbourne, BV and Mildenhall look like the top 3 sides imo. Lakeside are probably the fourth best team but they're running out of away fixtures to pick up points. Birmingham with Hampshire could nick something.

The rule was brought in after Wilson-Dean that you need a British passport to ride NL. Marson has one of these even though he's just come over from Australia.

Yeah Priest is the stand out option and started the season on an 8 point average, so is hardly shabby! Options are limited but there's options.

I didn't realise that but the point still stands as Knight is one of the league's top performers this season.

It seems a risky choice by Lakeside, considering you could've had Priest, Wallinger, Cupitt or Lawlor. But I assume they're thinking 'it's only Buxton' and the Hammers bottom 3 can beat the Hitmen's reserves and take some points off the second strings. That remains to be seen though, especially as the Hammers' 3 heat leader's will actually have a contest for once in the shape of Clegg & Williamson.

Equally they planned their fixtures to avoid clashes. I doubt the lack of Sunday home meetings and Coles being a Newcastle rider were coincidental at the start of the season. Of their 3 away Sunday meetings, at least 1 coincided with a Newcastle blank home date.

I think you're not upto date. Mullins left ages ago and Govier is at reserve, which is where Portwood slots in. As has been said, it gives the fans a full 1 to 7 and the Warriors fans want a full team to support even if they're not a championship winning septet.

What do you suggest is the alternative? Riders shouldn't be stopped from moving up but equally they shouldn't be forced out of the NL if they get a Championship spot. Look at Bowtell, he wouldn't cope with only Championship racing but without DU he wouldn't have been given a chance.

Agreed. In effective that scenario is exactly what happened with Greaves. The NL would break with uneven teams midseason if every time a heat leader moved up they couldn't continue.

Dudek & Zmarzlik Emil & Tarasenko Cook & Harris Lindgren & Lindback

Lebedevs & Bogdanovs Emil & Tarasenko Wells & Manzares Holder & Batchelor Edit: Doyle instead of Batchelor

You can use guests. Plus there's barely any clashes tbh.

A point isn't out of the question. They have several riders who go well at Perry Barr.

Looks a brilliantly contested fixture.

Yeah I definitely agree but Connor seems unsure as to who that seventh rider is.

Use guests and pick the best of the bunch depending on which track you're at?

Correct as Lakeside vs BV in round 1 hasn't even been scheduled yet! We know 2 semi-finalists (Eagles & Plymouth) and the other quarter-final (Stoke vs Mildenhall) starts next week.

It doesn't seem that long ago that I was here for an NL meeting with both Lambert and Ellis at reserve! Not they're in the World Cup team.

Milik & Kus Wells & Manzares Fricke & Holder Cook & Harris Lindgren & Lindback Madsen & Bjerre Bogdanovs & Lebedevs Emil & Laguta

That's a similar scoreline to what I thought. But then with it not being a league meeting and a losing bonus not up for grabs, some could become a little demotivated nearer the end of the meeting? Having said that you see less of that in the NL and with Ayres in heats 13 & 15 you're guaranteed effort.

Do we have confirmation that Lambert is fit to ride?

I guess it depends on your point of view. For neutrals like us, it looks like the guests even it up a bit more with 2 riders who know Arlington. But for a Kent fan you want to see Kent riders.

It looks a decent meeting, but Eagles are already 6 points up. I can't see Kent winning by 7 or more, even if they keep it close throughout.