Most thought it was all over but the speedway gods had other ideas. A six point gap at the top of the division one standings between leaders Swanage and their season long rivals Kent is back down to zero, just points difference separating the two sides as we head into the final two rounds of racing. With a much kinder run-in Swanage are still big favourites to land their fifth league title next week, they host Milton Keynes—who they have already beaten three times at Days Park in SL34—before travelling to bottom of the table Bicester on the final day, a team that have lost their last nine in a row! Kent beat Milton Keynes on their travels this week, 44-46, a last heat 5-1 from Espen Askelien (14) and second string Martin Latt (12+2) taking the Steelers to their eighth away win of the campaign. It was another two point success which saw them move level with the Swans, returned against them in the top of the table clash at the Iron Ring. Askelien (15) again led the way, this time with a maximum—his ninth of the campaign—and once more it was a heat 15 5-1 which secured the Steelers the meeting win, Zarand Paris (11+1) finishing as runner-up to his number one as Daniel Mucha (11+1) and Cameron Richards (11) trailed in third and fourth respectively. It wasn’t over yet though, with the aggregate scores now tied it was down to Askelien and Mucha to battle it out for the bonus, the race-off resulting in a sixth victory of the night for the Norwegian star. Earlier Swanage had lost at home to in-form Reading by the same 44-46 score-line, Craig Chapman (14) securing the points for the Whiteknights with a last heat win over Mucha (12+1).

Brighton’s Hobart Buus (13) has brought himself back into World Championship contention with his second GP win of the series. The current world number ten won the British round of the series for the second time in three years, the 28 year old Dane taking his career victory GP count to five with the single point success over European League duo, Aarno Saarinen (2nd) and Tommy Leinonen (3rd). Ruda Pala’s (8) slump in form continued with a third consecutive single figure score in the series, the defending World Champion though still leads the standings by a point, although Buus is now his closest challenger. A point further back is Leinonen, while Saarinen, Alexandr Ivanov (6) and Krzysztof Olszewski (11) are all just three points off the pace heading into next weeks final round in Poland, making it the most open World Championship races in history.

West Ham secured division one racing for next season with home and away wins this week. Bicester the venue for the latter, where reserve David Prater (7+1) was amongst the heat winners for the visitors. Ninth placed Bolsover (34 points) meanwhile kept their survival hopes alive with a fantastic 43-47 win at Putney, a venue they drew at earlier in the season. It was even better this time around, with all three league points secured with a heat to spare when reserve John Arthur (11) and second string Fiske Lijedahl (5+3) scored their side’s second 5-1 of the meeting.

Peak Dean are back in division one for a sixth spell after securing promotion with a 47-43 home win over Wirral. Nick Wood’s Nottingham have since followed Stuart Smith’s side up, with results elsewhere confirming a top three finish for them despite a five meeting winning run coming to an end for them at Newcastle (46-44). Meanwhile Dudley Wood have been relegated as one of Wirral (33 points) and Warrington (33) are certain to pick up points on the final day when they take on each other, Dover (33) are also in the fight to avoid the drop. In division three a long awaited promotion for Bracklesham was celebrated with a 41-49 victory at Tresco for the Rhinos, who have spend the last five seasons in the third tier.