TigerIain

He was classy and quick, but didn't seem to handle pressure very well. My memory is that he generally didn't do well in heat 15 and all his bad matches seemed to be against Edinburgh

Without the Spires draining all their finances I expect Oxford will be one of the wealthier tier 2 clubs Ritchings was decent for Poole last year. I think him and Jack Smith would make a really strong team (with Smith likely to start at reserve all year). I think Max Perry is more likely to sign for Berwick as he had some really good scores there last year

They are doing this as so people can buy them as Christmas presents. The announcement did state that the ticket is based on a 9 team Championship, which suggests (but does not confirm) they will change them if the structure changes. I do notice though that it covers 8 league, 2 BSN & 1 KO Cup match, so IF 3 teams joined the Championship you could make the ticket valid for 11 league matches, or for any 11 of the possibly 14 or 15 matches. They could also sell a top up to the season ticket to cover and extra 4 or so matches. Nothing about the situation is ideal, but I don't blame any promoter for trying to catch Christmas.

I think most people expected then to be back, gives them a strong looking top 5. So far it looks like a team that will be challenging for trophies

To find a riders average: If you go into the British Speedway website, click on the 3 lines at the top left to open the menu, click on Championship and then 2025 declarations, and then click on issue 27 amended at the bottom of that list. That gives you ask the rider averages (by team) using column A. Multiply any Brit by 97.5% to get their reduced average for team building

.

Lawson's scoring dropped off after he missed the KO Cup semi at Glasgow when they were doing engine testing. I presume his back injury hindered him for the rest of the year

Works well at Glasgow. The kids race after heat 10/11 is hugely popular, and is now 2 different races. All the kids get a sweetie at the end. Most kids beat the mascot, and Ben Basso was a regular participant when he was a Tiger. The promotion have spent a lot of money doing up the stadium, and making an entertaining race track, and employing an entertaining team as well, but for the kids it seems that their races (under/over 10) are a big part of their night at the speedway as nearly all kids in the stadium take part in it (and most adults seem to be watching it)

I think that he is more likely to sign for the Courtney's other team after his scoring there last year. The pen in Rushen's photo keeps us all guessing but I heard 6+ months ago he had agreed to go to Poole (although so had Rowe!), but with a strong top 3, and likely top 5, then 2 reasonable reserves (such as Ritchings and Jack Smith) should make them strong contenders

Drip feeding works in place where each announcement gets a back page story in the local press. It doesn't work in cities where the news is dominated by football. Drip feeding announcements of reserves and second strings would get at most a single sentence in the news in Glasgow. Even Bomber would be no more than a paragraph. Different teams do it differently based on local knowledge on what works for them publicity wise

Very strong top 3. I would assume that Kileen and McDiarmid would be back as the second strings, leaving 5.08 (I think) for the 2 reserves. If Daryl Ritchings was signed (2.29) that would leave 2.79 meaning Jack Smith would fit...and would probably be at reserve all year

Don't think so. 8.20 with a 2.5% reduction is 7.995, which would normally round up to 8.00. It might depend though on if there is a more specific calculation. I'm also not sure if there is a specific rule on rounding. To be honest though, I'd be surprised if anyone actually asked the question. Top rider on his day but too many issues

The announcement on his own Facebook page indicates that he hasn't signed elsewhere: "At this stage I'm unsure what's next". Either the Comets didn't want him back or he didn't fit into their team building jigsaw

Dan Thompson had been beaten from the back by Lewis Kerr in Heat 12, and whilst he gated, he had looked slow. Could have went with Flint but he lost out to Cook in heat 14 and isn't the best gater. Howarth was slow in heat 13, but better earlier in the meeting. And had been a last heat decider hero all season. Had Howarth been able to force his easy under Cook in the first bends and Bomber followed him through then Cami would have been a genius for picking him

Too early to say who is favourites, add we only know one 1-7. I'm happy to see Freddy back, there was signs of improvement and having a stronger partner take some pressure off him. I hope that he kicks on this season. Max is a little unlucky not to be back, not that much between them and he was a match winner on occasion. Mainly away from Ashfield, but certainly in the home playoff semi. I hope that he gets a team place somewhere like Berwick where he scores lots of points (although preferably not when we visit 🤣)