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Just three race wins on the night, but Glasshoughton Gazelles led for virtually all of the second leg of KOC final, in the end they succumbed to Seaton’s heavyweights, Jozsef Tolcseres (15) and Nicola Milanzi (12+2) ensuring a 46-44 win on the night, but the home side fell well short of overturning their first leg deficit, the boys from Manchester lifting the KOC silverware for the first time in their history. Nigel Campbell (10+1) was part of the side that suffered the heartbreak of losing in the SL7 final, and despite being a former World Champion, he insists lifting this trophy was one of his proudest moments: “Speedway is a team sport and the spirit shown by the lads here cannot be bettered, you don’t get this feeling riding as an individual—whatever the competition. Each and every rider played their part in the victory, even Jamie [Johnson] who’s had to sit out tonight, he’s been invaluable in the pits keeping a smile on everyone’s face.” Mike Elliott (4+2) was part of the squad that lost both SL5 and 7 finals and he believes the win can be a springboard for greater things: “It’s not been the greatest season’s for me, but this changes everything, the squad is young and everything is in place for success, just watch us go from here.” Elliott followed home team mate Steven Douglas for maximum points in heat two, that giving the Gazelles a lead on the night they would hold for virtually all the meeting. Seaton gave themselves hope of a late comeback in the tie when taking a 5-1 in heat 13, but Douglas’s second in the next ensured it would be Glasshoughton’s night. The aggregate loss denied the Meteors any hopes of a domestic clean sweep of trophies, a day later at Whitehaven Knights another trophy was wrenched from their grasp, the home side completing a narrow two point aggregate victory when Mike Clarke (14) and Mattias Jigenheim (11+1) rode to a stunning 5-1 in a fitting end to the final of the competition. After a tight first turn in heat 15 Clarke powered to the front, unaware of the battle behind him, Jigenheim picking off both Tolcseres and Milanzi on the final lap much to the delight of the home crowd. The trophy is Whitehaven’s first since they won the league title two years ago.

Jozsef Tolcseres (12) couldn’t hide his joy as he was crowned World Champion for an unprecedented third time this week, the Hungarian storming out of the pits to take the plaudits of the Warsaw crowd before being jumped on by his support crew. In an amazing night at the Polish circuit the Hungarian raced to four straight wins before finishing dead last in his final race, letting in long-time series leader Aki Johansson (5) in with a chance of snatching back the World Championship victory. The Finn hadn’t made a gate all night, his only race win coming in heat 7 when Russell Draper let him through by going too wide around the final bend. He failed at the tapes once more in heat 19, he could finish no better than third handing the title to Tolcseres, although he insisted nerves had not played a part: “No not at all, I was focussed on what I had to do, it just didn’t come off tonight, congratulations to Jozsef.” In taking the title—by a point from Johansson—Tolcseres becomes the first rider to be crowned World Champion without winning an individual GP in the series, while his 52 point final tally is the lowest ever required to take the title. Scotland’s Carl Davey (13) picked up the final round victory thanks to his last heat win, while Steve Patterson (12) finished third, his first double figure haul of the campaign seeing him finish as the highest placed Brit in the overall standings, he taking fifth.

Chalvington clung on to a European Cup place despite a final day 44-46 home defeat against Glasshoughton, the loss though sees them slip to fourth in the final division one standings, Cambridge taking third from them thanks to their 11 point win over Whitby. At the other end of the table Whitehaven just missed out on moving out of the bottom three after suffering a 46-44 defeat at Bournemouth, a draw would have seen the two sides swap places in the final standings. However with Bournemouth this week announcing their closure Whitehaven will remain in division one next season.

Up into the top flight go Dorchester Dragons, Rugby Gravediggers and Stone Seagulls, the Dragons as Champions after they picked up the crucial bonus point in their final day fixture at Rugby. Successive 5-1’s in heats 12 and 13 of the meeting ensured the aggregate point would be going the way of the visitors, Jon Davies (13+1) in action in both races. Not only have Dorchester now taken back-to-back promotions, but in defeating Rugby 48-42 in the second leg of the Division Two Cup they have also won the two lower division versions of that competition in successive years. Having earned a draw in the first leg on their travels any sort of win in the second for the Scott Somerville side was enough, Rune Amudsen’s (13) third win of the night in heat 14 ensuring the trophy would be theirs. Stone—relegated from division one last year—took the third promotion spot after rivals Houston lost 55-35 at Port Talbot on the final day. At the other end of the table Claygate survive the drop despite finishing in the bottom three, Bournemouth’s demise keeps them up, however Tiptree—just points difference below the Riders—go down.

Despite back-to-back wins from Kent both Wordsely Wizards and Rushden Rockets held on to the promotion places in division three, they following the already promoted Bradford Dukes up, who were crowned Division Three Champions this week. Wordsley beat Rushden to claim the Division Three Cup silverware.

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