DC2

I agree with that. Smith has made little impact in the CL over the last three years, barely averaging above 3 at any point, but did his year at Swindon set him back? Quite probably. Without that experience he might be a 4 point CL rider by now.

For the final signing. If we sign Adam Ellis we’ll have about 4.08 left. Wells, Jeppesen, Jordan Stewart, Sedgmen, Stefan Nielsen and Sam Jensen all fit.

Or Howarth instead of Nicol. 7.15 and 5.16 riding for Sheffield in the CL.

Probably. Connor Mountain?

Sam Jensen is another possible.

Fair point. No, I haven’t seen him ride. Your opinion has more foundation than mine. I’m now wondering if Swindon might sign him too!

Looking at Wolves’ team building, Nick Morris must have been given a 2 point penalty rather than a 2.5% discount.

The KL team finished on 43.97 so that alone suggests that only tweaking is necessary, although the averages can flatter a side that’s winning big at home but doing dismally away, especially if it doesn’t finish the season well. Lambert, Cook and Riss, if signed, are far more likely to increase their averages than Doyle, Batch and Rasmus Jensen. I would have kept Palm-Toft rather than Kerr or Jorgensen, but it looks like he’s gone. KL should still be a solid side and could well do an “Ipswich” next year.

Nick Morris didn’t get the 2.5% discount this year.

Either that or it’s a rubbish team with two older riders on their way down and an unconvincing Sam Jensen.

Oh dear. That’s 2 points wasted.

BWD would be a bad signing on his average. Palm-Toft and Connor Mountain would fit but I think Anders Rowe has already said he’ll be riding at number 2.

Hume or Kinsley?

Hans Andersen would be good. And leave 3.54 for the final rider. Could have been Drew Kemp!

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away Now it looks as though they're here to stay: Masters, Thorsell and the 40 point team.

That would be weird. With Perks on 3.48 and us having about 4.08 left if we sign Adam Ellis there’s no way Perks should be in the 1-5. Stefan Nielsen on 3.71 is the minimum we should expect (or Jordan Stewart on about 3.59 if he’s not saddled with the 4 foreign minimum). As long as it’s not Mikkel B Andersen.

And has a lower average than Masters.

Jack Smith had a handy spannerman too!

Keep your hair on. It’s just a discussion. And my view is irrelevant compared to Rosco’s.

He beat Craig Cook at Somerset after Cook missed the start and got caught behind his own rider. Nevertheless a good ride. Anders then came fourth behind Connor Bailey, second behind Bickley (both Glasgow reserves) and third ahead of Vissing. In the two second places he beat Somerset’s Nathan Stoneman (a 2 point reserve) and the completely useless Mikel B Andersen (0, 0, 0). A handy performance by the youngster but he wasn’t beating established PL riders all night. The previous home meeting he scored 9+1, which sounds pretty good, doesn’t it. But he beat only Sarjeant, Coles, Willie Lawson and Stoneman (all 4 or below in the averages), team mate Schlein, and Sam Masters who had EF.

Oh god. Do I have to say this? Spot on, Steve.

Agreed. Good luck to him.

Isn’t it seven teams rather than eight and fewer older riders being allowed?

Yes, he won the NL riders title that was called off after three rides. I think he’s a promising young rider and I wish him the best, but he’s not Woffinden, Lambert, Bewley or Darcy Ward and he’s not ready.

Mountain was at 4.82 for two months before dropping to 4.73 in the final week.