Boston’s Gyorgy Eros was denied a record equalling third World Under 21 title when he lost a race off in this years final at Blunsdon, the Hungarian handing over the crown to fellow 20 year old Ciro Gautier who was the more dialled in to the Park Ridge circuit. The win was certainly well deserved by the Italian, following a retirement in heat three he cruised to victory in his following five heats—including the race-off—making notable passes on Eros in heat six and top British hope Craig Albone (8) in heat 20. Albone had his own bike problems, a broken clutch cable denying him any points from heat five, the 18 year old eventually finishing down in eighth. Tony Stephens (11) was the most consistent of the five Brits in action, the Tanglewood rider—on his first and last appearance in the final—taking the third spot on the podium despite ending the night with just one race win to his name.

A 44-46 win at Benfleet—one of their main rivals at the bottom of division one—has helped Stepps Serpents build a five point cushion between themselves in eighth and the drop zone, they handed the necessary 3-3 in the last when home heat leader Matthew Daniels (12) inexplicably came to grief coming around the third and fourth turns on the small Bees circuit. On for a maximum Daniels was leading the way at the time before he did a complete 360, just missing team mate Vinny Dewhurst (13) in the process. The result was Stepps’s third away win of the season, all coming against the bottom three sides in the division.

In division two it was away win number one of the campaign for Downham Dragons, a basement ding-dong with bottom side Mile End going the way of the visitors thanks to a last heat 4-2 won by Adam Kozarzewski (12+1). It was the earlier performances of Jake Dawes (10+2) that made the difference though, he combining with fellow reserve Andrew Russell for a 5-1 in heat two, before picking up second places in heats eight and 12 when up against his opposite number Adam Beeby (1), who in stark contrast was way off the pace. Dawes’ night got better in heat 14, he passing both Beeby and home second string Rudiger Berthold (7+1) in quick succession to join Kozarzewski for the sides third 5-1 of the night. The win sees them build the gap in the standings between themselves in 11th and their defeated hosts to five points, any hopes of moving closer to those above them though were dashed later in the week when they were held to a home draw by leaders Sunderland, who as a result remain seven clear at the top.