Ben91

Mason is likely to be back at Rye House. There is, and rightly should be, limited space for more experienced riders in the NL. They benefit their team mates yes but one per team is plenty. Mogridge, Verge, Kirby etc aren't being forced out of contention in the Kings side because of the points limit, they are being forced out because 1) the Kings have gone top heavy and 2) they announced the bulk of their side before they knew what the points limit would be. That being said they have made a good start to team building and with the right three riders in the last three slots they can challenge for honours without a doubt.

Lubos Tomicek > Nico Covatti. Lubos was half a wheel away from becoming a GP rider remember.

Second sides in the Trophy gain nothing and are just hen picked riders from the sides that aren't in the competition. Look at Leicester last season. If Lakeside enter the trophy I hope they're told to field a 7 man team of riders who are not attached to NL clubs already.

Hear 15 does count towards averages, however an average is worked out over what a rider should be scoring over 4 rides. It is points scored divided by rides taken times four. So if a rider scores 10 from four rides his average is 10. If he then races in heat 15 and finishes last that average drops to eight.

Every sports person is human, their profile is irrelevant. They earn a living paid for by supporters going through the turnstiles and the least supporters should be allowed to do is voice their opinion. If the riders don't like it, don't read the forum. Higher profile sportspeople receive criticism in a far wider range of ways and the measure of them is how they deal with it. Nothing is different with a speedway rider. The reality is that six of the riders in this season's line up have been Rockets before and all bar one (Kennett) have fallen short in their last spells with the club respectively. They are on the averages they are on for a reason.

They're sportsmen, criticism is part of the job. The criticism is more levelled at the promotion however for yet again giving us a mediocre looking line up.

He could always go back to Redcar and under perform. Won't be worth that 21k if he's back on a five point average next year.

This is why the asset system needs to be scrapped. Riders should be free to move where they want between seasons.

Kennett was the only positive from the side that started last season for me. He did do the job of a number one but the team was too weak for him to carry it. I can see the same happening this year. As I said before there are too many question marks. I fear for us going away to places like Sheffield, Peterborough and Workington as we'll be lucky to pick up more than a point or two from reserve. Can't blame Greenwood for going to Somerset to be honest, did we even make him an offer though? Looking at some of the sides declared already I'm fearful for this season.

He's been a snip on his average ever since he came over here. One of the most overrated riders about.

From that press release it seems not. Good start to team building for the Kings without a doubt.

The Raiders are going to be looking to develop riders, Kent are looking to win the leagues no real clash of interests there. Talk of potential thrown meetings on either part etc will happen of course but I can't see that happening tbh. Simple solution is to ensure the sides race each other home and away early in the season when there is still a lot of racing to be done.

A lot of better riders in the draft this year. Won't be that clear cut.

Tai was never known as a gater at Rye to be fair. Kasper is a hard rider which is positive. From his last spell at Rye my only criticism other than his poor gating would be that he doesn't like to try the outside and just plugs away trying to push the bloke infront out of the way. That may have changed last season of course.

Can't see that. Always a danger with riders like Charles Wright that one thing goes wrong mentally and they'll plummet. Seems a rider very dependant on confidence to perform.

Sheffield have made a very good start to team building. Why ruin it by signing Risager. When he first dropped down I expected he'd be a good PL heatleader but he's fallen well short. If you go with Bates and Ellis at reserve then your tail is too long IMO as well. Don't get the hype over Josh Bates personally and I think Ellis would perform better with a strong partner to cover him if he has a poor meeting. Hope Sheffield have a good season in 2015, the signings made so far are pointing towards that happening.

Bowen Morley Mason Chessell Harris Watts Sheppard Possible line up, fits under the current points limit, would need rejigging if that changes obviously and not taking the situation regarding Bowen's eligibility into account.

Benny Johansson. Case closed.

Which I do agree with. You can't compare Jakobsen and Palovaara on just one meeting though. Using a low averaged assessed rider from overseas is more likely to displace a young Brit from a team spot than using an assessed rider on a seven point figure. Look at Palovaara and Konopka, they'll both probably be in Premier League reserve spots next year, why them and not say Sarjeant and Clegg for instance who are probably every bit as good on track. My views on assessed riders haven't changed because we have signed one, I'd personally like to see assessed riders revert to their assessed figure if they don't meet it across the season.

Not at all. I don't think Jakobsen will meet his average, I said as much in the post you quoted. I never said Lunna was rubbish either but by all means catastrophize.

Will reserve judgement on Jakobsen til I see him but can't say I'm overwhelmed by the side. Be surprised if he meets his assessed figure. Too many ifs around the side again. If Bowen can get going again. If Boxall has settled back in and has decent machinery. If Nelson will improve after a season away. If Garrity will ride to his true potential. If Jakobsen will be competitive. If Kasper has learnt to gate.

When Glasgow signed Palovaara this season I looked at his results from his Swedish racing and said on this forum there's no way he'd be anywhere near his assessed average and was just another second rate import. I was shot down by most Glasgow fans. Palovaara averages south of 3 points a meeting. I was right. Didn't need a YouTube video. The sad thing is that he will be back in 2015 probably and taking a young Brit's spot on his 3 point average. The same as Konopka at Redcar. If Lunna averages over 3 he has done well, which begs the question: why not use a 3 point Brit?

He's always seemed to be a veteran, well for as long as I can remember at least! Can't see him having any issues carrying on for a couple more seasons either as long as he steers clear of injury!

WUFFY WUF... Linus Sundstrom.

Tony Atkin is 48 I believe and has recently said he wants to carry on for another two years.