Islander15

Lakeside first?

Doesn't that show to you how confident the prospective Aces and Colts riders are that a deal will be struck? None of the Colts riders that you would expect to be in the team have signed up elsewhere, so nobody has signed for another side 'just in case'. They're all confident that they'll be riding this season.

He's decent enough and he'll hit over 3.00, whereas Im unsure if Locke or Whitmore will.

Not very long. Hampshire will move up after the first set of averages.

It was sarcasm.

Certainly. Use it as motivation Rikki.

Another promising youngster signed up 😉

A bit unfair on fans of other teams to give Somerset 2 national events, don't you think.

Why is the British Semi no longer at Scunny? It was the best meeting last year.

Yes it's not fair but I guess the Heathens either put up with that or nothing tbf.

I agree, especially if he rides Arlington like he did in October.

What time do Birmingham start on a Bank Holiday Monday?

Not a great average for guests early on in the season either.

If it's a clash of fixtures then they can use a guest regardless of his position in the team (as long as he's not at reserve).

It's only one day!

Pipe talks about Perks being here for the season and maybe leaving if he thinks he might not be able to carry on. Whereas Perks talks as if he only plans on doing the first few meetings and then re-evaluating the situation. I wonder if Perks will gradually miss more and more meetings, especially away, with the Hitmen using decent guests each time.

Belle Vue won't be that far down and they wont have Jacobs either because he's already said he's starting the season without a team.

Opening night is against Cradley on March 22nd. Thats early this year and a good meeting to start with.

Lakeside are rarely going to compete against Rye on a Saturday. Whilst Eastbourne and Rye have both ridden on Saturdays for years, but I admit that previously Eastbourne have been in the higher league.

The NL had to wait until the top 2 tiers had confirmed their fixtures in order to avoid clashes. But as others has said, it's frustrating how late in the year fixtures are going to end up being released.

Verge & Ruddick are both slow improvers. Even if they don't add much to their averages, they're not going to lose a lot either. Likewise Woods always hits around the 3.00 mark. So they will always have 2 reserves who will be better than the opposition's kid number 6 and useful at home, similar to Eastbourne's pairing in 2016.

You need more than just a formidable top 2 though. Look at Rye House last season

Jacob's average is 8.63.

By signing 2 of the best riders on that average they've effectively forced teams to sign weaker riders at number 4 on a similar average. Unintentional but beneficial when they come up against sides who have set up with a strong top 3.

Hampshire will do well next season but there aren't many riders left to slot in to the number 2 spot and keep Taylor at reserve. Halder maybe? It's a team that looks strong around their home track.