Ben91

Woffinden, Lindgren, Michelsen and Musielak would leave just over ten points if the limit remains at 34.

Don't be silly the lights are switched off as soon as possible after meetings.

Good start would be a return to a 16 rider format. Imagine we'll see any fit Rockets (Eddie, Rob, NBJ, Danny and possibly Luke). Add in Hughes and Ayres to see how they get on against PL level opposition as I get the impression they'll be in the frame for a reserve berth next year. Give one spot to Hume, Bowtell or Hunter, perhaps a pre-meeting race off with the winner of the three added to the line up and the other two given reserve berths. That makes eight, for the others a couple of crowd pullers, Harris/Nicholls maybe and Linus would be a great addition to the line up. For the rest, riders who we are interested in for next year. But I expect a 12 rider meeting made up of a hotch potch of Rockets, Raiders and Kent riders.

Obviously never seen him round Rye House then.

Cradley are one of the teams that have actually been using their number eight when needed.

Until there's a press release from the club confirming that nobody was willing to guest at this short notice then it's all just internet speculation. When you're racing three meetings in three days you need stand by riders on hand. Who was supposed to be Dan Greenwood's replacement originally? It probably was MacDonald and that in itself is far from being good enough. Somerset and Plymouth were at Rye on Saturday night, out of all those riders only Garcia was willing to take a guest booking? Fisher takes loads of guest bookings in the north, was he asked? I'd be very surprised if we are not reprimanded for this.

Probably the highly rated duo: Local Junior Another Local-Junior.

That would be quite a shock...

When Coventry did it in the EL I was fully behind their decision to be honest. Rider safety is paramount.

Edinburgh's 3 point reserves are also crucially scoring their averages, ours have been lucky to get more than the courtesy third place point from heat two between them. If your top three score 30 points out of a possible 40 available to them from 14 heats, which is doable, and your reserves are chipping in with 6 between them you're only looking for another 6 from your second strings to be taking a point from most away meetings. It's getting the bottom order right that is the problem.

Why is it bad sportsmanship to not want to ride in potentially dangerous conditions?

Who's the Rockets' guest tonight then? Hume and Bowtell are scheduled to be riding in the under-19s at Berwick, I'd have plumped for one of those for this as there's nothing riding on it for us. Perhaps Hunter could be given a go.

The Raiders would have scored more. Pathetic yet again.

The FTR's were good enough this year for them to not need two reserve only races. The normal 15 heat format, used in the PL and NL could have been reverted to and the reserves would have attained real averages. This needs to be implemented next season and once the reserves have averages then their position in the team is dictated by that average. If they are injured/missing etc then a FTR guest or replacement has to be used in place regardless of whatever that average is.

Good to hear for Brum/Cradley fans, could both sides sustain PL racing at Perry Barr? Can't see Cradley riding PL on Birmingham's track while the Brummies stick to the NL.

Really looking forward to it, hope Kyle does come good, was really unlucky not to win it in 2009 I think it was when he broke down while leading Craig Cook in a run off for the title.

If Kyle Hughes is in it he could mount a serious title challenge. Has been excellent at Rye this season.

Would have been fine if we'd used the points available for our other signing rather than copped out and put Greenwood in the team again.

That's simply not true, the bit in bold especially. Steve Boxall and Jon Armstrong were both scoring heavily at reserve and were told they had to move into their respective top fives despite reserve positions being 'protected' all season. It was a good system in principle and had it been developed rather than scrapped after it didn't produce instant positive results in 2006 we may well have a stronger standard of British riders in the sport now.

I fear the Raiders may well be non starters next season. With the Silver link to Kent there's a prime bottom order waiting to be signed at Rye right now. A 38 point limit and the Kings could retain their top three and add Hume, Bowtell and Hunter leaving about 5 points to spare.

Because crowds were coming in in their thousands the last time Aussies and Kiwis were allowed to race in the third tier... The points limit needs to be raised to around 38. The PL needs to enforce a Brit only reserve system and the the likes of Branford, Ellis, Greenwood, Morley etc who are heatleaders in the NL are given a natural progression to the next level. Otherwise the likes of Konopka, Maassen and Dilger will be taking PL reserve berths yet again.

Perks isn't in the top five in the league, neither is Zach for that matter. Ellis and Branford compete in British Championships, where they were raised should have no bearing on that fact. The NL has finally started to go in the right direction, there's no need to take two steps back now.

Big question for the Kings is going to be who to let go this winter? Would imagine one of Morley, Shanes or Ayres will have to go or they will be faced with a long tail yet again.

Think he went back to three when he went to Somerset, however he's not eligible to double up due to his age as far as I'm aware. We've got three league meetings left I believe? Let Alfie Bowtell have them. For the cup then pick the best rider available each night, Morley at home for sure.

Also the fact that he is rubbish. Struck me as a real token number 8 when announced and that's been demonstrated by him not being given meetings when there have been plenty of opportunities to do so. Why should they be allowed a guest for a rider who has just gone home?