A run of two defeats in ten has taken Putney back top of division one for the first time in nearly five months. Their final home meeting of the season against Swanage is looking increasingly likely to be crucial in this years title race, with the Spitfires ending the week a point clear of the Swans in the table after overhauling them with a 52-38 victory over Peak Dean. It was however an earlier 42-48 win at London rivals West Ham which set them on their way to the summit, a second win of the meeting from second string Yevgeni Orlov (7) sealing the club’s sixth away victory of the campaign. In all Putney riders raced to an impressive tally of 11 heat wins, shared between five different riders. The result and later 48-42 loss at eighth placed Reading leaves the Dockers just three points above the Whiteknights and the drop zone, West Ham claiming what could prove to be a crucial bonus point in that fixture 89-91 on aggregate.

Two clubs seemingly cruising towards promotion to division one both failed to pick up any points this week. Second tier leaders Dover (47 points) and their closest rivals Long Ley (43) both lost home and away, the latter’s home defeat inflicted by Nottingham (41) and ended a club record winning run of six for the Lions in the process. The Jazz moved up into third spot after the win, which was secured by the minor places from Mike Synder (13+2 from six) and Solt Boder (12+2) in the final race. Nottingham had trailed their hosts by 12 after the first five heats, but recovered to lead by four by the end of heat 13 as their riders won seven of the next eight, a run which included two Synder/Boder 5-1’s. Dover meanwhile suffered their first home league loss in over a year with the visit of Medeswell (34) to the port town, Pavel Vonasek (9+1) and debutant Blazej Polacek (9+2) securing all three points for the Magpies—who went into the meeting in the relegation places—with a last heat 5-1. Medeswell end the week up in sixth, going above Wordsley (32)—who won at Wirral but lost at home to Bilston—and Tresco (32).

Warrington look set to be promoted back to the second tier after two years away. A run of six straight league wins has taken the Vikings—who sit second—five points clear of Poole, Farnham and Benfleet in the race for a top three finish. Benfleet picked up five out of six points in what looks likely to be a three-way battle for third, with two of those returned for a draw at Calne. Warrington’s latest away win came at bottom side Dudley, 38-52.

Putney’s Kimmo Laakso (15) scored a maximum in winning his second Grand Prix round of the series. The 31 year old now leads the World Championship standings having gone into the Czech round down in sixth, runner-up in Prague—Aarno Saarinen (11)—is level on points with his fellow Finn in the overall standings, but behind on count-back. Both Cameron Richards (9) and Venedict Glinka (6) drop down the order, but are just a point adrift of the top two heading into the final three rounds of the season.