Ben91

Kent got team building wrong last year, one of the top three at the start of the year (Baseby) shouldn't have been signed and more points freed up at the bottom end. Then the persistence with poor riders at the bottom meant they were always on a hiding to nothing. It is certainly something to look at, hopefully for a rider of Zach's undoubted talent he'll be contemplating riding EL and PL in the next couple of years and not need the NL.

38 would be fine. Each team can accommodate a decent number one but the emphasis is still, as it should be in this league, developing young British riders. Stand alone teams can still build a side to try win the league with a low points limit, they have to accept that they are in the third tier and part and parcel of that is that rider development is of a great importance.

Hoping Branford is a Rocket for next year, would leave an awfully long tail if he is a Raider assuming the points limit is 38. Hume, Bowtell and Hunter have to be the first three names on the team sheet. I can see Bowen or Hughes starting as the Raiders' number one, fitting both in would again leave a really long tail.

Probably puts Danny Halsey out of a job too?

The changing of the race format left so many riders around the six point mark. It also protected reserves from racing against the top riders week in week out, if they hadn't been wrapped in cotton wool they would have proper EL averages and the riders in the main teams would also have averages which varied a little more than being between 5.5-6.5, thus there would be no need for a heatleader grading list. Hopefully the race format changes back for 2016. It's madness teams chasing the likes of Kasprzak just because they need to use up all their points, then they'll be complaining when he averages six with the rubbish race format.

Sorry I should have said three three pointers come the end of the season. Think they got caught out by naming riders before the points limit was announced too. It could be argued changes should have been made before Ayres' average went up too and they didn't come. Hopefully the Kings will get a couple of decent reserves in next season.

It was having three three pointers that really hurt Kent in 2015. If they use two in 2016 and one can kick on then they will be more competitive.

Still decent going for a lad in his first full PL season. Probably a victim of his own success at Glasgow so it's good to see him fixed up for next year. If Castagna does well Ipswich could have either him or Sarj in a reserve berth all season.

Didn't realise he'd spent so long in the top five last year. Fair play.

Looks pretty unspectacular to me. King is a class act at this level but I can't see any improvement from Covatti or Risager. Big question marks must hang over Kerr, hopefully he will come back firing on all cylinders for his sake but it's not often you see riders who have been through similar situations to his do so. Sarjeant will do well to maintain his starting figure in the main team IMO. Castagna I don't know much about but he could well be the key if he can improve his starting figure. There are better riders than Ritchings who haven't been picked up so far as far as the number seven slot goes, he is improving year on year though after going through similar injuries as Kerr a couple of years back so hopefully he will continue to do so. Will still probably turn us over home and away.

There are plenty. Plenty better than Phillips too, only need to look at the NL averages to see that.

That and he probably needs another year of NL racing behind him before stepping up.

Can't imagine you using Phillips, not good enough for this level yet.

Last season would have been his third year since achieving his first PL average so I assume there's no reduction despite him not riding PL in 2015.

Be very surprised if Shuttleworth gets a PL spot.

Payne hasn't been riding much longer than Ayres/Chapman so it would make sense if he was included in being allowed to ride PL.

Looks pretty solid to me, decent top two, middle order will do well and one of the stronger reserve pairings in the league.

I'd imagine Perks and Greaves will go back to Cradley on what look like attractive averages. If the points limit is 38 Mogridge and Neale could move up to second string with Harris and another three pointer at reserve leaving just under 8 for another heatleader.

Can't see him putting a point on his current average, having three riders better than him in the team gave him an easier ride as a second string all year.

Warriors sound like a sports team, Islanders doesn't. Plus the Isle of Wight bit at the start is a pretty huge hint that the team is based on the Isle of Wight.

The track staff know no more than the average fan on the terrace does. We're close to Stanstead so it doesn't make us a no-go for Morris but it's likely we won't get him and Ellis.

If he has patriality then he shouldn't have been assessed on a five in the NL but come in on a three, something which then should carry over to the PL.

I'm not sure the addition of the 'link' changes the sound too much Andy! That said it is great to see the IOW coming to tapes (fingers crossed) for the new season. The new nickname fits a speedway team more than the Islanders did in my opinion too.

BWD and Ellis aren't eligible for the three point berths, of the eligible riders Morley has the highest NL average from last year plus he has more PL experience so he's really the top man on the list, obviously he's at Rye now. Zach or even Spiller would be a great choice for the future if the club(s) that sign them can tie them down to full contracts. It should have been decided and stopped last winter, if he's racing as a New Zealander he shouldn't have raced NL and should be on a five point average in the PL. Averages aren't anti-speedway, there needs to be a way of regulating team strengths otherwise it would be a free for all. There was a 2-3 year period, nearly 10 years ago now where each team was allowed one Commonwealth rider on a five point NL average. That was stopped, so BWD shouldn't have been allowed in on a five point average, he's either a three point Brit or a New Zealander and not eligible as far as NL is concerned. That's in the past now anyway and it's happened, doesn't make it right though.

If we go with a 7/5 or a 6/6 split it will be even more of a travesty that NBJ was allowed to go to a rival to up his average.