Denaby’s two year reign as KO Cup holders is over after they were beaten in the competition for the first time in 11 ties. The Devils became only the fourth different side to successful defend the crown last season, but their hopes of landing the trophy for a third successive year came to an end at New Station Road, where their hosts Laceby completed a three point aggregate win with a 47-42 victory on the night. Another 5-1 reversal in the last for the Avenues, but this time boss Martin Smith will not be concerned about that, his side—who doesn’t have a rider with a GSA over eight—securing their spot in the semi-finals with 5-1’s of their own in heats 12 and 14. Reserve Leos Stich (9+2)—whose average is just 1.4 below that of nominal Avenues number one Gleb Litvin (7+1)—featured in both the late decisive maximums, finishing second to Andrew Humphreys (5+1) and then to top scorer Lorinc Barabas (12) in turn. It’s only the second time Laceby have made it through to this stage of the competition, on their previous visit to the last-four eight years ago they went on to reach the final. Having drawn top flight basement side Liden next they will be favourites to do so again, although the Rebels are certainly enjoying the KO Cup more than the league in SL26, they reaching the last four by racing to their second successive away victory in the competition, the latest returned at Bolsover, 42-48, sending them through by 14. Don Valley and Ramsgate will meet in the second of the semi-finals, both comfortably making in through round three to set up sixth KO Cup tie between the two clubs, the fourth at the last four stage.

Although they remain in the top half of the table a fourth home defeat of the division one campaign has left Brighton fighting a relegation battle. Just two league wins in nine now for the Bombers who enter the final third of the season just three points above the relegation zone, with Manor winning at The Elms for the third time this season. Joseph Wall (15) scored his second maximum of the week in the 42-48 win, with his fifth heat success securing the points in the final race of a meeting the Miracles were never headed in. Andy Barton’s side remain third, but have cut their deficit to leaders Don Valley to seven points ahead of their crucial trip to second placed Denaby next week.

Quantock lost ground in the tight division two promotion race as they suffered their second home defeat of the campaign. They were soundly beaten by second placed London at Coleridge Way, 41-49, Darren Evans’s in-form Jaguars ending the week on a winning league run of five following the victory which was secured by a 5-1 from Liam Marlow (13+1) and Massimo Cortese (13+1) in heat 13. It’s the first time ever they have beaten the Rangers on their own patch, the result ending a run of five successive losses at the venue for the club that are looking to achieve back-to-back promotions. Despite their recent success, London are still only two points clear of fourth placed Southampton, who claimed only their third point on the road this season on their trip to Wednesfield. The Wanderers began the week in the promotion places themselves, but slipped to fourth after conceding a point to the Scorpions, who are looking to bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt. Southampton never led in the meeting, but levelled the scores in a clash they had trailed in by eight with a George Farley (10)/Craig Willoughby (9+2) 5-1 in heat 14, Blake Gray won the last for them, but the Wanderers packed in the minor places to ensured their unbeaten home record for SL26 remains intact. Whiteley replace Wednesfield in the top three, the early season leaders moving back into the promotion places with a 44-45 victory at Buxton, a meeting bookended by visiting side 5-1’s. Indrek Ratnikov (15) won both on his way to his tenth maximum of the season, Robi Kollar (8+1) took the crucial second spot in the last heat decider.

Altrincham’s Zarek Jablonski (13) rode to his maiden career GP victory in this season’s Finnish round in Pori. A race-off win over top British finisher Callum Osborne secured the 35 year old his success, the Pole is back in the series in SL26 for the first time since he finished as world number two five years ago. Third on the night went to Federico Castellini (11), while opening round winner Alexander Wagner (4) finished down in 14th. Jablonski takes over the World Championship lead from Wagner, Osborne—making his series debut in SL26—is up to second overall.

Don Valley’s Taylor Barber (14) has become the fourth rider to win back-to-back BU21 titles after winning this years final in Brighton. The 20 year old topped the standings from 17 year old Joshua Thomas (11), Dylan Hale (10) finished third.