Ben91

The teams in both divisions are going to be made up using PL averages from 2016. If a rider only has an EL figure that will be multiplied by 1.4, so for example, Jason Doyle will start on a 13.42 average, even though he obviously won't be able to live up to it.

There should have been only one KO cup, one legged ties with the Championship side hosting if they are drawn against a Premiership side. If two sides from the same league were drawn together the first out of the hat hosts.

No, the EL only averages from this year will be x1.4 (press release stated +1.4 but the BSPA twitter confirmed it is EL ave x1.4). So it is a 5 point rider with an EL only average, of which there aren't many. I really hope we aren't going to be putting out a team of Lakeside left-overs, if we are going to do it then lets do it properly and not be tracking riders who have fallen short of the mark in Lakeside colours season after season. I can see Eddie returning however and wouldn't be against that.

Basically PL strength teams with a higher points limit. I hope we don't end up with a team of Lakeside cast-offs. Particularly not Bridger or Mear. It's good to see the PL race format is being used too. Think the key to success in this division is going to be strength in depth. 50 divided by seven means teams could line up with seven seven pointers.

I think the only thing that could make me mildly interested in an EL Rockets team would be the inclusion of Woffinden and Sundstrom, and that isn't going to happen.

Saturday isn't a great night for EL racing but it isn't out of the question. I really hope the rumours of EL at Rye aren't true as the EL is terrible. Rubbish race format, even more inconsistency in when meetings are staged, more expensive to watch despite the standard of rider not being that much higher than the PL. The list goes on.

If someone can get him in lower down the order than he was at Plymouth then he may well kick on. Think there's potential in him to become a seven point PL rider. Two reserve heats each meeting in the EL certainly helped him look better for Poole IMO.

He got asked to go and ride over there because he was already good enough. That's skill, not luck.

I'd imagine Troy Batchelor is in every clubs thoughts on his current average. Maybe not as attractive as it looks if the current race format is in place again next year but if sense prevails and the old race format (the one still used in the PL and NL) is brought back then he'll make a mockery of a 5.26 figure.

While it is sad that other clubs may not survive the winter, that is not the attitude to take or the sport will only continue in a downward spiral. If everyone was just grateful to have some speedway to watch at their local track then promoters would be able to take them for a ride. The customer is the most important thing in any business, if speedway fans are being alienated because promotions are taking the attitude of 'just be grateful you have something to watch' then that is wholly unacceptable.

You can at present but can't double up from the start of the season.

Rules are rules. Feel sorry for the fans. Robbed of a full meeting (three three rider races) and the Brummies lacking a number one made it a foregone conclusion. Disappointing for a cup final and the last meeting of the season in the UK. What's done is done, hopefully it will lead to lessons being learnt. Not much point in pointing the finger at either promotion now, as I've already said I feel sorry for the fans, they're the ones that have lost out ultimately.

You don't have to be watching one team to go to all three on successive nights.

Shame to hear that Glasgow are planning to move to Saturday nights, a weekend northern tour is always good with Edinburgh Friday, Berwick Saturday and Glasgow Sunday. It makes sense for their fans though, the sport is better under lights and night time generally makes for better racing than day time, especially in the summer heat, when it does occasionally reach Glasgow!

8.68, finished the PL season on 4.34.

Posted this on the Raiders thread already: 1. Lanham 2. Bowtell 3. Cockle/Ritchings 4. Hopwood 5. D. Greenwood 6. 3 pointer 7. Hunter I think Lanham's days of riding in the PL are over but he's on an attractive NL average and has bags of experience. Bowtell should have stayed this season and hopefully we can tempt him back, the natural progression to the Rockets eventually if he makes the grade should be a selling point. Ritchings/Cockle would be good back up to Lanham. If Ritchings kicks on too there's opportunities with the Rockets to be had. Hopwood, our asset and on a bargain average at this level. Would be ridiculous to let him go elsewhere. Greenwood is known to the promotion after a spell as a Rocket last year, again opportunities for him to stake a claim for a PL place with a good season. One new three pointer is enough as we've found out this season. Hunter has suffered from a stop start season and being in the main team from day one. Get him in at reserve with no pressure on and he'll improve.

Very odd choice of guest in Stoneman for the Eagles, probably what decided it in the Brummies favour tbh. Good to see the team that finished top win the play-offs. I suspect the Eagles will win the cup still.

Come on now you don't seriously believe that?

He wasn't sacked this year, he walked away as far as I know.

Where were you expecting the Eagles reserves to pick points up? A lot to ask of them to be scoring against a team of 6 point plus riders away from home.

I'd not go anywhere near Anders anyway, shame as he was really kicking on then had a bad injury. Never been the same rider since. Hopefully the promotion will do the necessary paperwork so we can employ Aussies again. Especially with Jack Holder likely to be available, should be going all out to sign a rider like that. No thanks, have him at Newcastle.

Not on his current average.

Yes, but no.

The diehards who want to travel away will still do so, for the rest they can attend the NL meeting at home. Or run the EL meetings on a Monday for example and the NL meetings on a Tuesday. The Sky thing is a risk the sport has to take. Either people want lots of Speedway or they don't. If you're a person that loves your Speedway you'll go to the track over watching on TV if it's an option. TBH, it feels like the sport is held to ransom by riders and by TV, the only people who should matter are the customers. They should be given what they want, that way they'll keep coming back.

The answer is to run one race night, a home meeting every fortnight. That will get the top riders back. If a promotion wants to have a meeting a week then run a NL side on weeks that the EL team is away. Helps riders to develop, is cheaper for fans and also gives them their weekly fix.