After nine successive exits at the first round stage of the various versions of the divisional cup Timperley are now beginning to get the hang of the competition. It’s now seven group victories in a row for the Titans and with it a second straight semi final appearance for the club, their latest success in the run returned at Eastbourne, 41-49, a side who were looking for a 20 point win to take their visitors place in the last four. Hopes of achieving that were derailed with the failure of their riders to win any of the first four heats in the crunch fixture, the Titans racing into an eight point lead as 4-2’s in heats two and four sandwiched a heat three Tobias Schneider (9)/Michael Connolly (6+2) 5-1. Last weeks £50,000 signing Marek Osenkowski (8) was on the wrong end of the visitors early maximum, the second string though recovered to score well in the rest of the meeting, his side however did not. Trevor Putnam scored just three points from his five rides in a woeful display, while the home reserves contributed just two points between them as their opposite numbers managed eight. Timperley take their 100% record in SL25 into the semi finals where they’ll meet Southampton, the Saints finishing as runners-up in Group A after they suffered their biggest defeat of the season in their first round finale at Lyme Bay. The Buccaneers 52-38 victory taking them through as winners of the section. Holders Wimbledon take on the Buccaneers in the semi finals, the Stars needed a draw or better against Cricklade to see them through this week, they won the meeting 53-36.

Two times world champion and current world number two Thomas Klemmensen (6) will not return to the Grand Prix series this season after he finished down in 11th in this years Scandinavian Final in Malmo. Fellow SL25 GP riders Dan Hogh (8) and Erkki Arponen (8) will also miss out on the series unless injuries to others earn them a reprieve in the Play Off round, two wins in the meeting for the latter not enough to earn him a top seven finish. Two wins however were sufficient for Andreas Skiljo (11) to claim a shock victory in the meeting, the Wroughton rider—who had the lowest GSA in the 16 strong field—claiming his second win with a tapes to line success over Kaya in his final race of the night. Finnish duo Santtu Heikkinen and Janne Vuorinen completed the podium, with the top three earning the first spots in this years GP series.

A 43-47 win for Lyme Bay at Eastbourne and a first league defeat in seven for Timperley has given the Buccaneers some breathing space at the top of the division one table. Lyme Bay’s fourth away victory of the campaign was completed with a race to spare when Sam Jones (7+1) became the fourth different heat winner for the visitors in heat 14 of the clash at the Hyenas, their top three had already took the chequered flag in front on nine previous occasions. In contrast home heat leaders Eddie Myhill (8) and Trevor Putnam (6+2) both failed to win a race all meeting. Timperley’s unbeaten run—which extended to nine meetings in all competitions—came to an end at Harringay, 46-44, the Racers twice going eight up in a meeting they had secured the points in by the end of heat 14.

Stone Cross remain in the division two relegation zone despite recording their first away win of the SL25 league campaign on their visit to Wroughton. A 44-46 victory for the Crusaders against the bottom of the table side despite Alberti Lombardi (1+1) and both reserves beating just one opponent between the three of them. Still Stuart Smith’s side went into their home meeting against Cradley full of confidence, however they failed to build on the success, going down to a two point loss against the Storm who pull off something of a smash and grab raid. Thomas Klemmenson (17+1) and Brian Bodker (11+1) scored 5-1’s in heats 13 and 15 to complete a 44-46 victory for Graham Weaver’s side, this their first success on the road of the year.

A third maximum of the season for Janne Vuorinen (15) helped Sunderland record their fourth successive two point league win. Victory at strugglers Coleshill was their second in a row away from home, Vuorinen beating Christian Winder (12) and Andreas Magnusson (11+1) in the last to secure the Stars the points. They end the week third in the division three standings, back up to second go Westward Ho, who ended a successful week by claiming their first ever away victory on their trip to Loughborough. Paul Graham’s side took control of the meeting with 5-1’s in heats seven and eight, Morgan Owens—who’d been averaging just 1.95 this season—finished second in the latter on his way to a season best paid eight. Loughborough end the week fourth despite the loss, they having earlier won at Hull, 44-46, thanks largely to the performance of number one Andy Daniel, the 29 year old scoring an 18 point maximum in the success.