SPEEDWAY legend Gary Havelock has warned Chris Holder it is tough at the top and to expect his biggest rival to be a familiar face – Darcy Ward.

Havelock, the 1992 world champion, is backing Ward to emulate the success of his Pirates colleague if he gets an invite to the Grand Prix series.

Ward has been widely tipped to compete at the sport’s top level next year and GP chiefs could announce their wild card picks as early as this week.

Havelock thinks Ward could emerge as a leading competitor of his close mate Holder if the sport’s bosses select him for a place at the top table.

The duo, dubbed the Turbo Twins, have forged a hugely productive partnership since joining forces in Dorset in recent seasons.

Pirates captain Holder landed the world championship crown in Poland on Saturday and former Poole skipper Havelock thinks Ward could be the next Wimborne Road star to fulfil his rich potential.

“I would love him to get a wild card,” Havelock told the Daily Echo. “I am a big fan of his and I love watching him. I could watch him all day. If he gets in, it would be awesome.

“I think he would have a chance of becoming world champion in his first season – I really do. I think he’s that good.

“If they put him in, he would probably be in the top three or four bookies’ favourites straight away, before a wheel is even turned.

“It would certainly be exciting times to watch those two going head to head for the world championship after the years they have spent together at Poole.”

Havelock, who correctly predicted Holder could win the world title in an interview with the Echo in April, expressed his delight at watching his ex-team-mate claim the crown at Torun.

But he says being champion can pose a difficult challenge.

Havelock added: “One of the biggest things as world champion is that everyone wants a piece of you – photo shoots here, interviews there, turn up here and people wanting you to ride there. Before you know it, you can slightly take your eye off the ball.

“Next year, if they put in Darcy Ward and Martin Vaculik, it is going to be that much harder for Chris to retain it.

“But I don’t think he is going to be too worried about that right now. He will just be sat there with a big smile on his face because he has achieved what was probably his childhood dream. It certainly was for me.”