Former world and multiple Australian champion Chris Holder used the Jason Crump Classic at Kurri Kurri Speedway Club on Boxing Day to signal he will be a force in the upcoming Australian titles.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Holder won his five heats and then took out the A-final from reigning Australian champion Rohan Tungate, 2017 champion Sam Masters and Holder’s younger brother and 2018 NSW champion Jack.
Jack progressed from a hotly contested B-final from Buttai’s Jye Etheridge, visiting German ace Eric Riss and Kurri Kurri’s Mason Campton.
Chris, a five-time national champion, was in emphatic form and showed his fierce determination staging a two-way battle with Masters in heat 19 only passing him in the final straight after an audacious move on the last bend.
Holder said he thoroughly enjoyed his first competitive hit-out at Kurri Kurri in several seasons.
“I arrived back in Australia last week and this will be my only event before the Australian titles,” he said.
“Kurri played a big role in my development as a junior and it was great to be back racing here again and getting the win.”
After finishing outside the top eight in the 2018 world championship standings, Holder needs to re-qualify for the series.
A big performance in the Australian championships would seal one of the Australian spots in SGP qualification rounds, which culminate in the GP Challenge at Gorican on August 24.
“It’s been a tough few years, particularly with stuff off the track. It affects your enjoyment of racing and your performance. I’m looking forward to getting back and just concentrating on racing and enjoying it,” he said.
“I’m not looking beyond each round of the Australian series at the moment. I just want to enjoy it, hopefully go well and the rest of the stuff like qualifying for the GP series will take care of itself if it’s meant to be.
“I’ve got rides in Poland and Sweden next year and will base myself in Spain. I won’t be riding in England and without the GP commitments, for the first part of the season at least, it’s going to be a lot less hectic than it has been for the last few years.”
Tungate and Masters both made strong starts to their Australian seasons and believe it will be one of the closest and most exciting in years.
The Australian championship is a five-leg series this year starting at the Gillman in Adelaide on January 3.
The action moves across the Victorian border to Mildura on January 5, before Undera stages round three on January 7.
Round four takes place at new Aussie championship venue Albury on January 9, before the champion is crowned at Kurri Kurri on January 12.
