Ben91

It's not about the rain offs though Gustix. It's the fact that in a 30 odd week season Stoke could not fulfil 7 home league fixtures. It's shocking really and inexcusable.

It's been said for a long time but a lower points limit would really benefit the NL. For the fans the racing is closer. For the young British riders they get a better chance to enter competitive racing. For the clubs it keeps the costs down a little more. Let's hope to see at least eight clubs come to tapes for the start of the season, more would be even better. On an IOW air fence note, could a deal be made to purchase Peterborough's if buyers do not come forward? Sad thought, however it would be terrible if we were to lose two clubs this winter.

Watch Grasstrack after watching Speedway and it can seem a little mundane IMO, could explain the attitude some Speedway fans take towards Grasstrack. The disciplines are similar however, perhaps not exactly the same but similar, anyone saying otherwise is being ignorant. Grasstrack is not a feeder sport to Speedway, it is a sport in its own right, however Kent in particular is/has been a hotbed for Grasstrack and riders making the switch onto shale. Names such as Paul Hurry, Harland Cook, the Basebys, Barry Burchatt (unfortunately retired due to an injury sustained grasstracking) and I'm sure there's lots I've missed. As such it may be something for the Kings to tap into in future for potential riders. For 2014 I'd go with Coles and Kingston though. On a Paul Hurry note, anyone know if he is still racing? Would come into the National League on a 10.86 average if you convert his last EL average from 2010.

Mellgren and Aspgren instead of Kennett and Lambert and we had a title contending team on our hands. No issues with Eddie coming back on a personal level, he's a Rye legend but from a team building stand point he takes up too many points and this has meant we have had to sign Simon Lambert. A bit of perspective, we have dropped Olly Allen, what more does Kennett offer the side except maybe a point or two more at home for his far higher average? Lambert won't pull up any trees, he always looks laboured around Rye and that's a polite appraisal. Mellgren and Aspgren would have left Luke and Garrity at reserve whilst we would have always had a solid number one. I'll reserve judgement but I think it's going to be a case of what could have been.

No Mellgren is a decision that is going to come back and haunt us as he'll go elsewhere and become a number one next year. Luke deserves a testimonial, 10 years with Rye House, not just as an asset. Only missed last season due to injury. It'll be interesting to see the line up he puts together!

Really, that's interesting, cheers fella. Can't think of anyone else who dropped down to see if their averages were converted that way, still it's strange that Boxall came down on double his PL average then.

Not so, Steve Boxall dropped into the NL this season on double his last PL average. If it has changed then Kent can feel very hard done by having used Boxall on a much higher average than they could have had him on.

Have you actually asked anyone from the club Gustix? Maybe try emailing them and they can be of assistance. I think by now it's pretty obvious nobody on this forum knows the answer to your query.

PL to NL conversion is double the PL average. Different to EL to PL conversion.

It would be terrible if the Islanders were to be lost to the sport, lets hope a solution can be found. The rule to bring in air fences across the board is a very good one with regards to rider safety there can be no arguments with that. The ridiculous part, especially for standalone National League outfits, is the timing of the announcement that the rule was coming into effect. It have hardly any notice for clubs to prepare and get fund raising initiatives in place. Tracks like Buxton have done a great job with their fund raising efforts but they can't have been easy, fund raising never is, but the least that could have been done was to give these clubs some time. Lets hope the IOW come to tapes for 2014. Perhaps a meeting with some of their former stars such as Chris Holder donating their services to kick the season off could help raise some money?

Continuity is ok but it probably won't win the League title again. Teams need to build with riders who can improve their averages. From an outside perspective I'd say only one of the top 4 can be retained as I can't see any major improvement from them. Stick with Doyle, he's a fans favourite and one of the best in the league. So who fills the next two slots? The name Zetterstrom has been mentioned and may not be as outlandish as it seems. He'd come in on a 7.8 average which he is bound to improve on, he'd be one of the Premier League's top men. Taking the third spot Claus Vissing. More than capable of adding a point to his average back at the OTA. Next up Kyle Newman. He'll never be a world beater but has enough about him to become a solid PL middle order rider. He's very professional and could add to his starting figure. Rounding off the top 5, Todd Kurtz. Surprised he is still only on a sub 5 average. He has the potential and must kick on in 2014. A move to Somerset alongside his brother Brady, who I'd put in the number 6 slot may just do that. Finally, Stefan Nielsen. He's a class act, was dealt a bad hand by the Rebels towards the end if last year but he's capable of improving on his 4.7 starting figure. Somerset owe him a shot perhaps and wherever he rides in 2014 he'll be one of the best reserves in the league. Outsider perspective of course, had a bit of time on my hands!

It's still just double the PL average, the conversion system is different to that between EL and PL unless it has changed for this winter. Mills may have an average, I'm not 100%, but Schramm will be double his PL figure in the interests of consistency as its been longer since he last rode NL that Boxall did before this season and he came in on double his last PL average. When did Mills last actually achieve a NL average? I have a feeling it will have been back in 2005 at Oxford and the meetings he did at Bournemouth were on double his PL average at the time. Mills on a 6 point average would be a no brainer and Schramm on a 7.04 would be a decent signing too. If they're on higher figures then they are of course not as attractive signings.

Time to chuck my thoughts in. Gone for a solid top 5 and two riders who will be strong reserves. 1. Ben Morley © It is a make or break year for Ben. He isn't ready for the Premier League yet. His NL average dropped below 6 at a stage in 2013 which shows this. The fact he finished above 7 shows a strong end to the season though and proves he is capable of performing to a high standard. He has all the attributes to be a very good rider and has great support off track. He's off to Australia this winter which has helped lots of young Brits really kick on. Give him the number one racejacket and let him make it his own. 2. Marc Owen The lad was destined for great things. Unfortunately he had some horrible injuries however he can come back and become a very good rider. He would be a slow burner across the season, perhaps even drop to reserve for a spell but by the end of 2014 he'll be heading back in the right direction. 3. Chris Mills Will come into the NL on a 6 point average, capable of at least 7. Comes from Chelmsford so not a horrendously long journey for him to home meetings, especially after a year of travelling all the way to Workington for home meetings. An experienced head also, a key signing. 4. Benji Compton Shown glimpses of what he's capable of in 2013. Had some poor performances too, if he is on better machinery then he can become a heat leader certainly. 5. Chris Schramm On a 7 point average Schramm is a must. A real battler, will maintain his average or push it up by 0.5 or so. Another experienced head in the pits. With Morley, Compton and Mills could become part of a powerhouse top 4. 6. Connor Coles Question marks over machinery, none over talent. On a decent bike and at reserve Coles will really kick on. Spent most of his first full season partnering Steve Boxall and racing opposition heat leaders in most races. Be a shame if he's lost to the sport, can become a real Kings favourite. 7. Jack Kingston Never say die rider, love watching him ride and progress as a rider. Partnered with Coles the Kings will have a reserve partnership to strike fear into other NL sides. There we go, a solid side 1-7, led by fans favourite Ben Morley, full of potential and experience. Boxall will go into the PL, he can't double down and rightly so. Simon Lambert on an average similar to Boxall's would be a mistake as he is half the rider that Boxall is. David Mason was a victim to the numbers in my line up, however he could be included in place of Mills or Schramm although he hasn't got the same potential to improve his average IMO. Adam Kirby again a victim of circumstance, he's a real battler and doesn't know when he's beaten. It didn't work throwing two rookies in this season however and it'd be a mistake to go with the same partnership again I feel.

One rider's availability is not enough to change race night for, it's a big upheaval for fans and not worth it. The last few seasons Newcastle have put very handy sides together and they will do next season again I'm sure. As for all the suggestions of Robert Lambert, I'm sure the lad won't give up his continental commitments to sign for a Sunday PL team. I would have liked to see him at Rye House and it did look like it could be a real possibility for a while but I can't even see that as we are a Saturday night track. As a young Brit with a big future I hope he does end up in the PL somewhere, stepping straight to the Elite a'la Bridger isn't a good move.

Ah I see, thanks for clearing that up. Hope that if he takes advantage of a 3 point starting average he will also commit to racing as a British rider.

Surely Kurtz will be on a 5? He wasn't allowed over this year due to a work permit due to his age? If he is riding as a Brit then he would of had no issues starting this year on a 3 point average.

A fan wants him in the Sheffield side. I could say I want Tai Woffinden back at Rye next year, wouldn't make it happen though.

Add Aspgren to that and it can be a good side. Solid top 5 in Mellgren, Aspgren, Nelson, Garrity and Boxall. All can improve, especially Garrity who has the potential to be a real number one. Boxall is a no brainer on his average. Bunyan and Bowen are solid reserves, much better than Kasper and Morley that we ended the season with. Neither will improve massively but they won't plummet either. Aspgren re-singing is key but if he does and we don't have any injuries we'll have a very good side.

Doubt it Ian, can't say for certain though. 5 riders capable of decent improvement, definitely not a bad side at all. Dominate at home and solid away. Let's see your seven then?

Rob Mear? No thanks. No time or respect for him and he's quite frankly stolen a part time career as a speedway rider. If it fits I'd expect to see and be happy with a side of Mellgren, Aspgren, Nelson, Bunyan, Boxall, Garrity and Bowen. Improvement in 5 of them with Garrity being good enough to become an out and out number one. Guaranteed two solid reserves all season too. Only name there that I'd say isn't a shoe in is Luke who may have a year at Kent. Perhaps we'll see the young Aussie Jake Allen at Rye.

Because it's a dead rubber, Connor last raced at the end of September in a couple of Premier League level meetings which will have been great for him experience wise. Thus missing this one fixture will give him another month in accruing funds/finding the right machinery to come out all guns blazing in 2014.

Maybe Connor has just packed up for the year and flogged his gear as many other riders do to get some funds together to upgrade for 2014. Could be a very simple, innocent explanation. He's gonna be a decent rider IMO, Kings should definitely look to bring him back next term. Also a chance to look at Phillips who is a decent prospect himself.

I am not a Pearson fan by any stretch of the imagination, I personally think he can be a little too biased sometimes and it does detract from my personal viewing experience, that goes for Darts coverage and talksport too. Conversely a lot of people do like him though. Too many people moan about him because that is the general consensus not because they actually have an opinion on the subject it seems. As much as I'm not a fan, the man has a real passion for the sport and that cannot be knocked. As for the play-offs, again I'm not a great fan however they draw crowds and make good viewing. Comparisons to football are silly, Speedway is not football it's as simple as that. My team won a league title through the play-offs and I celebrated it, the rules are there set out at the start of the season the same for each club.

Newport were fine when they had crap sides, when they went s*** or bust hoping that would bring the crowds back was were the problems started IMO. From our last fixture of this season to the first next season we could have a gap of almost 7 months without competitive speedway at Rye, that is terrible. Don't believe any of this one big league rubbish, not seen it speculated by anyone other than fans yet. Can see the PL points limit dropping though, 38.5 has been rumoured. Start with Mellgren, Aspgren, Nelson, Boxall and Garrity and sign the other two depending on whats left. Bunyan and one other would be my picks and lets build up to the limit!

Leicester have had Kerr and Lewis Blackbird slip through the net this season, woops! Kerr is a real talent, his NL form has been a little worse than people may be expecting from him but rather a British prospect is prospering higher up the leagues!