EVEN for a daredevil like Chris Holder, there comes a time to slow down.

As the Australian adrenaline junkie reels off his list of preferred hobbies, it is hard to imagine him taking things easy.

From motocross to surfing and jet skiing to wakeboarding, his off-season activities hardly sound like a recipe for relaxation.

When your day job involves scorching round a track at high velocity on a two-wheeled speed machine with no brakes, it is unlikely that a skinny latte and a good book will be your cup of tea.

But even for 24-year-old livewire Holder, there is a limit. While not exactly ready for his pipe and slippers just yet, the Pirates star admits he has to start letting his head rule his heart when it comes to his leisure time.

Long tipped for world glory, Holder is hoping to mount a more serious challenge in the 2012 Grand Prix series after finishing this season’s championship in eighth place.

In order to do that, the Wimborne Road hero will need to be fit and firing come next term. That is why his Australian summer will take a slightly different course this year.

Motocross, surfing and plenty of practice laps are on the agenda but the Poole faithful can rest easier in the knowledge that Holder does not intend to risk life and limb in the pursuit of fun.

“I do any sort of water sports and bike sports,” explained Holder, as he looked ahead to his well-earned break in the sun before heading back Down Under last month. “There is not much else that interests me. Anything that is pretty risky, I will do it.

“But it has changed a little bit now and I really have to think before I do something stupid.

“I probably don’t risk it as much as I used to. Speedway is my job and that is what I do, so I can’t really afford to get hurt.

“It is always better to land on water than on the dirt or concrete.

“I have got to think about it a bit more because the consequences are a lot bigger now than they used to be.”

As he takes the chance to chill out at his base an hour south of Sydney, Holder will be able to reflect on a fine season.

In Pirates colours, it could hardly have gone any better. Having led from the front during Poole’s treble-winning campaign, the club’s number one played his part in an historic year for the Dorset club.

The British Speedway Promoters’ Association AGM – which begins today – will decide the team-building regulations for next season. The outcome of the debate surrounding the controversial one rider above an eight-point average rule will largely dictate whether Holder gets his wish to remain at Wimborne Road in 2012.

He is hoping for a satisfactory conclusion after already securing team places with Piraterna in Sweden and Torun in Poland.

With his club commitments out of the way for the time being, winning a fourth Australian Championship is Holder’s next target. However, the biggest prize of Grand Prix success will take hold later in 2012.

Having finished on the podium in three of 2011’s opening five rounds, Holder sat in third position overall.

But a lack of form in the second half of the campaign left him scratching his head – and aiming for improvements next time round.

“It was good to see it out and stay in the top eight,” he reflected. “Hopefully, I can pick up a few more things for next year, start 2012 how I started 2011 and then stay like that. I just want to be up there in the mix of it all.

“In the past two years of the Grand Prix, one rider has dominated so it has been hard to stay up there.

“Hopefully, I can have a good summer at home, get in a lot of laps and get a little bit better.

“I hope to come back and be a bit better prepared with some more equipment and go a lot better next year.

“There have been riders in the GP for years and it takes a long time before they can win it.

“But anything is possible and you never count that out. That is what you are in it for – to win.

“Sometimes, it just slips away too fast. You have got to be on form for pretty much the whole year and be so consistent and just keep getting points in the bag. It is a lot easier than it sounds.

“Hopefully, I can have a good summer at home, get in good shape and come back and be up there.”