Ben91

It's important to not get carried away about Clifton I feel, there are no guarantees he will go well. It is likely he will hold his own but he is as much of an unknown quantity as the other new three pointers coming into the league.

The Eastbourne team doesn't look that fantastic to me to be honest, doesn't mean it's a bad team though. Opinions are wonderful things and this place would be boring if everyone thought the same thing.

For every Sundstrom there's a a dozen duff riders though, it's not as clear cut as signing someone, he beds in in his first season and then dominates the second year. It isn't worth sacrificing a solid reserve to bring in an unknown, just look at Maassen this season. It either has to be a like for like swap for Klindt or two changes with Branford, a known quantity and improving, and a heatleader coming in.

If it's true I'd sacrifice another rider and bring in Branford and a big hitter. A five point unknown is unlikely to improve and we'd be bumping Kasper into the team, may as well sign Branford on an average he can improve and some decent back up for Eddie.

All the rough and tumble would be going on behind him.

Steve Boxall, sometimes he doesn't clean his kevlars or bikes between meetings.

It looks alright, not the standout team though. Birmingham and Lynn look better IMO, the Isle of Wight side could be better too if Smart gets back to his best, Baseby can carry on how he ended 2015 and one of their three pointers can hold his own. This side will probably make the play-offs though, that's all they need to do at the end of the day.

Sounds like he has continental and grasstrack experience. The leagues below the NL are important don't get me wrong but there are riders who don't need to go through them talent wise, time will tell if Bowdery is one of them I guess.

Good signing in Smart if he fancies it.

Branford can't replace Morley in the PL side. At the end of the day Branford needs a ride and it shows maturity that he has taken the offer of a NL spot at Rye rather than spit his dummy out and not have a ride at all. It gives him a chance to put himself in the shop window for a PL spot and is a way to stick two fingers up at the promotion for not giving him a PL spot if he dominates in the Raiders side. As for the side on the whole it is very top heavy, a lot of pressure on Priest to step up and support Morley and Branford. The loss of Bowtell is not good, the focus should have been on retaining him, Hume and Hunter and those three filling the bottom three spaces. If we sign Harris I think we've got a decent three pointer, he didn't have a great year at Cradley but the potential is there. A good top two and it could be a slow burner, the end of the season is what matters with the play off system though.

So much pony being posted here, there's a big world out there full of actual problems and things to be annoyed/upset about, what people write on the speedway forum isn't one of those.

Reade retired mid season while he was Plymouth's number 7 I believe, there's absolutely no reason for him to get an average reduction.

If Chessell can stay on his bike he could be a heatleader in the NL. Kingston has potential but he's had a very good season of he ends nearer a seven point average than a five.

Damn annoying when you've got a rider pretty much signed and sealed then someone comes along with a better offer...

The Eastbourne team is looking interesting, I can't see it being as dominant as it was in the closing stages of last year. Two Spillers would potentially turn it from an average looking side to contenders. The management showed last season that they are good at making changes when needed/forced upon them however.

Bailey even...

Looks a good side to me. The top three all have scope to improve, Stokes will probably end up third in the averages behind Greaves and Mountain. They're always going to have one strong reserve, they'll be there or there abouts if they steer clear of injuries.

Replaced by Neil Vulture clearly.

Owen is good at Kent, 2016 is a huge year for his career of he is going to progress in my opinion, he'd be a very good signing for the Kings.

If it was every EL or PL side then I'd agree.

When Rye House signed Andrew Silver in 2009 he was given an assessed four (could have even been five) point average despite being 42 and having had over ten years out of the sport. That was in the Premier League.

I'd say about 40 yards personally.

Couzins was the best three pointer the Kings had last year, he started well and then had to spend the year in the main team because the other three pointers were so bad. He's a lot better than Verge. Clifton will start at reserve undoubtedly but is likely to move up after the first set of averages, then it depends who is at reserve from that point going forward. Assuming the Kings go with three three-pointers that is, you'd think they'll have learnt their lesson this year however.

Looks like the Kings were planning to track three three-point riders from that press release, Clifton could probably hold his own in a second string berth. Perhaps the door is open again for Couzins?

Purchase has been inside hasn't he?