Holder 'not ready' for the GP (From Bournemouth Echo)

Holder 'not ready' for the GP

7:00am Saturday 21st June 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

PIRATES star Chris Holder is insisting he's not ready "financially" for the Grand Prix ahead of qualifying round four at Lonigo today.

The Australian young gun and senior national champion has been a revelation after stepping up to the Elite League this year.

He's also safely through to the World Under-21 Championship final after finishing third in the semi at Rye House.

But Holder, among the favourites to secure one of three 2009 GP places up for grabs through the qualifying route, said: "I want to be in the GP but I need a bit more backing and a bit more time running around.

"At the moment, I'm happy doing what I'm doing, getting experience in the three leagues.

"Having said that, I want to really try and get through Lonigo and into the semi, although if I can't it's no big deal.

"I rode the semi there last year and missed out on going through by one point. I had a crash in my first race when I was second and it cost me dear.

"It's going to be hard work to get through, especially as I've had a really busy schedule this week."

Holder, who finished 10th with seven points in Italy last year, one adrift of a three-man run-off for seventh and eighth, is aiming for a notable double this term.

The Castle Cover Pirates man is still joint favourite with Emil Sajfutdinov to lift the junior world crown at Pardubice despite filling the third podium spot behind Troy Batchelor and Tai Woffinden at Rye House.

Looking ahead to the final on October 5, Holder said: "Everyone will be in the mix in the Czech Republic.

"The top three at Rye House are going to be strong and then you've got Sajfutdinov.

"It's a final. Everyone will be hard to beat."

Sajfutdinov, who beat Holder into runners-up spot in the 2007 final at Ostrow, Poland, still has to get through his semi at Gorican, Croatia, on July 19.

Barring injury, that shouldn't be a problem for the Russian, who is aiming to become the first rider to successfully defend his title since the competition, formerly known as the European Junior Championship, started in 1977.