When Ramsgate won the 4TT for a fourth season in a row back in SL18, it was a run that no-one expected to be beaten. However just seven years on from that success, Manor (112) found themselves with the trophy in their hands for a fifth successive campaign, the Miracles retaining the title yet again with victory in this years decider over first-time finalists Dumpton (106) and Wednesfield (74), plus Cradley Heath (92), who have now finished on the podium three times without taking the main prize itself once. Waclaw Kozlowski has played a key role in all five of Manor’s successes, especially this latest victory, in which he featured alongside another of last years winners, Imants Lobanev, plus SL25 additions at the Bishops Arena, Mauro Bruno and Callum Nash. Kozlowski’s 11 from a possible 12 in leg one at Dumpton kept the holders in contention, in scoring 40 the Devils made a strong start to the final, Manor just holding on to their coattails with 27, Cradley and Wednesfield’s challenge all but over already having scored just 13 and 16 respectively. Koslowski missed out on a maximum again by just a point in leg two at home, but with Dumpton scoring 32 to Manor’s 33 it was the Devils that led at the halfway stage of the tie, and impressively so. The tables turned at Wednesfield where Dumpton trailed in last, Andy Barton’s side finishing just a point behind the hosts on the night, suddenly Manor were now three in front heading into the decider. A lead that was challenged by Dumpton, but was never quite overhauled, before Manor pulled away at the death with two wins and a second in the final three races.

One of their three SL24 titles retained, but that may be it for Manor (54 points), whose league crown looks to have slipped away with a 51-39 defeat at Don Valley (57) in their top of the table clash. The Vipers regained the division one leadership for the first time in two months with a bonus point gaining victory, a last heat 4-2 earning them the crucial aggregate success by four. They’d began the week with a 40-50 win at the already relegated Quantock, and with Denaby (55) also picking up the maximum six points in the latest set of fixtures, Manor have slipped to third overall. Denaby—who have led the top flight standings for the majority of the season—added a club record extending sixth away league win to their stats for the season on their trip to Cradley Heath, Steve Pearce’s side leading the clash from heat two onwards, having scored their first of three 5-1’s on the night in that. Six different riders were involved in the maximums, and overall they secured their slender meeting victory with just five heat wins. Denaby trail Don Valley by two points heading into the final rounds of fixtures, they’ll need to win both of them—which includes a final day trip to Manor—and hope the Vipers drop points if they are to win the title for the first time.

A shake up of sorts in the World Championship as both the main two protagonists Waclaw Koslowski (4) and Samuel Murphy (5) put in their worst performances of this years series. They finished 14th and 13th respectively in Prague, but still lie first and second in the overall standings, although defending champion Valeri Lach (13) has moved ominously up to equal third, just four points off Kozlowski’s pace having seemingly been out of contention prior to the meeting. Lach missed out on what would have been a third Czech GP win in four years after losing a race-off to Ramsgate’s Alexander Wagner, the success the German’s first in a GP career which spans 36 meetings!

Liam Hill (14) will by eyeing up future GP success after winning the WU21 title for the second successive season. A two point victory over Lye’s Patrick Shoemaker in Oslo for the Don Valley and Australian rider, who is still just 17, Bojan Sekula (11) took third, Hill’s Vipers team mate Taylor Barber (10) the best of the Brits in fifth.

Buxton (54 points) have put themselves back in the hunt to gain a promotion place in division two with a 43-47 win at Somerset. Simon Wallis scored 11+1 at reserve for the Braves as they rode to their sixth away win of the campaign, the defeat and later loss at leaders Brighton (57) seeing the Sliders relegated a year after earning promotion to this level, the win helping Buxton end the week just two points off Birmingham (56) in third and a further one adrift of second placed Dumpton (57). Buxton host Brighton on the final day, another key remaining fixture sees Birmingham travel to Dumpton in the penultimate round.

A shock first home defeat of the season for leaders Whiteley (57 points) leaves everything still to be settled in the division three promotion race. The Heathens are still favourites to go up despite the 44-46 loss to Lye, although Nottingham (53), London (53) and Dudley (53) have all closed up on them, the former following a draw at Newquay this week.