Islander15

No-one uses the word 'development' anyway, other than the regulations & Kent PR. It may as well just be dropped and referred to as the NL.

With only 11 or 12 home meetings, plus the odd KOC if they progress, wouldn't a smaller number of fixtures than previous EL campaigns make Saturday racing viable?

Branford had a very good season last year and is highly likely to improve his average, but that's made him very attractive and expensive. Maybe Redcar couldn't financially compete with the likes of Sheffield, especially when they have a rider in Busch who is on a similar average and became a fans favourite last year and is likely to add a point to his average anyway.

They're a proactive club that wants to win things though. As opposed to a promotion like Stoke who don't seem bothered.

That team would win the Premiership haha.

Looks a decent team to me. It's a strong heat leader trio and Proctor and Jorgy could both add a point to their averages. Williamson looks like he'll be one of the stronger reserves in the league. The question marks are over the second strings. Where's the improvement in Campton that only Worky see? Will Roynon improve or stay fit after a solid but unspectacular 2016?

Perks tweeted that he'll release who he's signed for on Friday & Govier replied saying that he knows. Are both lined up for Plymouth?

Agreed haha. It could come down to 38 but it won't go anywhere as low as 35.

Pipe also says he's signed 4 riders already and are close with another 2 and are assuming it's a 35 point limit!

If you read my post I said that Heeps was one of the likely average increases in the Witches side. But why not. For the record I think going with x2 2.00 men is risky but both Hume and Mountain are better than anything Newcastle are putting out at reserve.

I agree that there's little average improvement in Glasgow's top 3, which is why they'll need a rider to step it up at the bottom end to make them a serious contender. The Sheffield team looks the best so far as Bjerre has been an 8pt rider for a while now and just had a poor season at a club he was clearly unhappy at. Bates did better than 'stagnate'. It was his first season in the main body of a PL team and he averaged virtually the same without the virtue of heat 2 and he definitely ride better in the EL than in previous campaigns. He's still on an upward trend anyway. Admittedly there may not be a lot of improvement in Howarth or Graj. In JPB they have one of the best 2pters (Ipswich may also in Hume) but JPB is likely only have to take 3 rides and not have to fill in for the rest of the team with injuries etc whereas Hume would do.

If that's the team then it should make the play-offs but I also fail to see what all the fuss is about. There's a decent top 5, but the secret to winning speedway teams is riders who increase their averages and not many in that side look like they will. Schlein should but he's coming back from a nasty injury, Heeps could but he's failed to deliver at Foxall before, King & Covatti are on figures that are about right and Newman has been a 6.5-7pt PL rider for a couple of years now. Then the reserves have potential but it's putting added pressure on both by not having a senior reserve and when one of the top 5 is missing due to a Premiership fixture R/R will seriously weaken the Witches (especially if Newman is missing) and if a rider got injured during a meeting then there's not much cover for him.

Yeah that's true. I missed that when I made my team. Swap Carr with Payne.

What do you think he'll average?

Lawlor will put more than a point on and Bickley will do a Bewley!

I thought that tbh but just swap him for another 3.00 rider, in my team.

1. Danny Ayres 8.56 2. Alfie Bowtell 4.21 3. Dan Greenwood 6.82 4. Danny Phillips 6.25 5. Liam Carr 7.71 6. Bradley Andrews 3.07 7. Joe Lawlor 3.00 Total: 39.65

Masters/Kylmakorpi, Klindt & a 2 pointer to complete the team??

Imo the NL doesn't need any rule about maximum ages or limits on riders because, as HT points out, nearly every team gets it spot on atm. The number of riders that have moved up from the junior scene has increased in recent years and the number of riders getting team places has increased too simply down to the increased number of teams! I fail to see how 'old' riders are taking others' places when there aren't more riders out there to take these team places with 12 clubs in the league. Traditionally the issue has been that the top end NL riders have struggled to move up to the PL but the introduction of last year's mandatory number 7 and this year's 2.00 minimum has aided that. However I'll re-evaluate my opinion if the rules if the number of NL teams dropped, but atm there's enough reserve slots to fit newbies in and enough team places that 'old' riders aren't taking the places of younger riders.

I agree but he seems close to Laurence.

In both Bjerres and Bates the Bees had found riders who could hold or increase their averages, and add the dependable King and exciting Garrity it looked an alright team. But it really needed some top end strength to take the pressure off King and the bottler Kenny Bjerre, like a Kylmakorpi or even Schlein. But signing Sarj just wastes 2/3 average points at number 7 when he should be only taking 3 rides anyway and it means that Kerr is likely to drop down and you won't get Bates at reserve all season! The riders individually are decent signings tbh (maybe Sarj apart) but the team is poorly built!

How did Jye ride last season then?

I wonder how many Coventry lads Laurence will bring with him. Knuckey and Dan Greenwood maybe.

How can I get this thread pinned?

Perry's a Brummie fans favourite tbf but also it may depend on whether Cradley want him back as their number 5 with presumably Ayres at number 1.