Injury to their number one Nelek Walczak cost St Ives any hopes of progressing in the 4TT, however their league ambitions continue to flourish. Five wins in the last six have taken the Pirates level on points with leaders Blackpool, who they host next week, with a 41-49 victory at Doncaster seeing them end the week dead-heating on points difference with Coventry for second spot. Four wins from Blackpool asset Miroslav Ivanoff (12) made up for the absence of Walczak, his fourth victory in heat 14 securing St Ives their third away win of the campaign, Marek Siadaczka (15) went on to complete his eighth league maximum of SL35 with victory over the win-less Vadim Chabin (10) in the last. With Houston also winning on the road—43-47 at Witham—the top four in the table are now separated by just three points, the results of next weeks fixtures could have a big say in the destination of this years title, with Coventry the next visitors to the Mustangs. Both of Houston’s away wins this season have come at Witham, the latest returned despite home number one Adam Ashton scoring 17, his only dropped point coming in a last heat decider won by the visitors’ Richard Coward (13+1).

John Hawke (10) missed out on a podium spot by a point but still managed to increase his lead at the top of the World Championship standings following the Danish GP this week. An exclusion in his opening ride always meant it would be difficult for the England International to add to his two GP wins of the campaign, but he bounced back to win two of his next four heats and finish second in the other two to take fourth spot on the night. Horsens and Russian rider Yuri Duskin (13) led the standings on his home circuit to land his first GP success in 25 attempts, a heat 18 victory over Hawke securing him the top spot on the podium from Branimir Klepp (12) and Milan Grof (11).

Kelvedon’s Johan Lang (15) continues to mark himself out as one of the brightest prospects in world speedway at present. This week he made himself clear favourite to take the WU19 title with a flawless display to win his semi final in Linz, the 18 year old Swede finishing three points clear of Timperley’s Jarek Krol (2nd) and Marcin Piotrowski (12) of Bolsover. Neither British rider in action—Joe Connor (6) or Alex Bryan (5)—finished in the required top eight place to qualify for the St Ives final.

A first away win in nearly four months has re-ignited Timperley’s promotion bid in division two. The Pelicans—who were as high as second after a run of nine unbeaten earlier in the season—back up to fourth in the table and within two of the top three following a 44-46 victory at East Goscote, a victory given to them by a last heat Tord Finstad (13)/Mauro Papa (13+1) 5-1. Beverley continue to lead the way from Warley after beating Pelham, 55-35, while early season leaders Brighton halted a dismal run of seven without a win with a 53-37 home win over Redhill. Timperley could leap-frog Brighton into third when they host them next week, they needing a 13 point win or better to do so. In division three leaders Kelvedon dropped their first home point of the campaign, they held to a draw by Bury despite a paid ten from teenager, Johan Lang.