Before you read this, understand a few things first.  Am not 'having a rant' nor to I envy the task SPS have in putting on the nationals, I certainly couldn't do it!  I have been thinking about this for a while now and have decided to put my thoughts to the floor.  I would like to also state from the onset that I believe in qualifiaction for nationals, it is right that the top racing level in the UK should be for the more seasoned and experienced riders.  Now to my point (s)

I have rode and raced DH for many years, as the username suggest am still to set the world alight with results but do enjoy the craic what comes with racing and am steadily improving (my nomral results are in the 20 to 45th place bracket depending on lady luck!).  Last year I was unable to compete in the NPS series (or many races at all) due to a change of jobs and location as well as the associated costs that come along.  I hadn't really heard about the 5 point rule till it was announced and agree with the principals.  My question is directly related to people like myself who race in senior and didn't get any points during the 2007 season.

I have heard a lot people saying "all you need to do is go to a 2008 regional and get 5 points".  This seems quite straight forward untill you give it some consideration.  5 points at a regional in senior class comes from finishing 10th or higher, points only begin to get awarded from 15th up so essentially its top ten or bust.  The only exception to this rule is double points events of which all 5 nationals are as well as the regional championships.  In these points are awarded for riders inside the top 40.

Looking through the standings from the Midlands last year, the vast majority of highly placed seniors also (suprise suprise) did very well at national level, at the same time occupying the majority of point scoring positions.  This does make it very hard for anyone who does say, top 30 at regional level to get 5 points.  Such people are by no means un-skilled riders, certainly not going by the standards of people I ride and race with.  You can on the other hand do a championships race and stand a very decent chance of getting 5 points.  However, to my knowledge, there are only 3 races outside the NPS which carry double points this year, by which time most of the season will have passed.  If you are already a senior rider with 5 points then you are a lot more likely to get 5 points for 2009 doing the nationals as it is all double points, kind of an elite club.

I appreciate I am in a loose - loose situation here and am only really discussing my views out of spite for probably not being able to race the nationals this year.  Also ultimatley who give a toss about the ramblings of a twenty something alsoran!  I just question the difficulty level being placed on senior riders this year to qualify, it is a challenge!  Am affraid I can't think of an easier sollution easy, other than maybe a change towards the top 30 riders at each regional series in each cats overall standings being allowed to race nationals.

Hopefully I will get 5 points somewhere and be able to compete, I hope I do anyways   

What races will have the qualifying points? Will it just be events like dragons, midlands and sda's or will places like PORC and aston have them too?

Alsoran

I can sympathise with your situation as in 2006 I had significantly more points than, however with my job in 2007 I was out of the county 6 months a year and it coincided with the main races, meaning I also do not have the five points required.  Remmeber these guy are trying to create the best event with a showcase of the UK's fastest riders in each category.

Maybe focusing on the regionals will give you that speed injection to get you into the top ten each week, then go on to crack the nationals.

If eeryone could qualify with ease there wouldn;t be much point...If you think your  going to find it hard then your one of the people who isn't quit at national standard yet. So its a good motivation to step the riding up a  notch in order to qualify...Use it as motivation instead of complaining about it.

Excluding the nps I got more than enough points last year and the way I was riding i wasn't close to national standard

I'm going to two dragons this year, entering the juvenile catagory. Say if I got 10th on both, how many points would I have?

Thanks mate, this is all so confusing!

85% of senior riders probably aren't at natrional standard, seeing as its the biggest category with the broadest and most likely age range of competitors for the sport.