CHRIS Holder battled back to rescue his Danish Grand Prix only to be denied victory by familiar face Maciej Janowski.

Poole Pirates’ number one pocketed just one point from his first two rides but victories in heats 11 and 18 saw him nudge into the all-important top eight and a semi-final berth.

He then overcame Greg Hancock and Nicki Pedersen to head into the showpiece but despite an epic battle with his former Wimborne Road colleague, had to make do with second and a share of the series standings on 39 points.

After Piotr Pawlicki jumped the start of heat three, Holder switched up the inside but drifted and was overpowered by Matej Zagar, eventually coming in third behind Pedersen.

In a dramatic fifth race, Holder swept back in from the outside gate and briefly hit the front before being reined in again and after a battle with Bartosz Zmarzlik, brought up the rear.

It was third time lucky for the 2012 world champion, beating wildcard Anders Thomsen to the gate and waltzing to victory ahead of Andreas Jonsson and Janowski to get back within a point of a semi-final berth.

Holder went into an epic against Tai Woffinden, Hancock and Jason Doyle with the inside gate and hit the front early on before being caught by the old American master and then Brit Woffinden.

The Aussie ace simply had to win his final race and duly obliged, although Chris Harris pushed him all the way, particularly on the final lap before the Coventry star wobbled at the death.

Having finished the five qualifying races with eight points, Holder had third choice of semi-final gate positions, taking slot three with Hancock, Lindback and Pedersen making up the line-up.

Holder hit the front with a blistering move and was all set for the final with Hancock but a coming together between backmarkers Lindback and Pedersen saw the red flags waved.

Lindback was excluded from the re-run but Holder held his nerve to produce the same move round the outside of Hancock, who appeared sluggish and after a last-lap mistake from the veteran, Pedersen pinched second.

They were joined by Janowski and Woffinden in the final and having earned second choice after the Pole, Holder opted for the inside trap.

Again, Holder was in front from the gate but Pedersen’s awkward fall on the second turn made Woffinden hit the deck. The Dane was booted out of the re-run.

It was yet another breathtaking race with Janowski just winning the gate but Holder threw everything at it and briefly nipped in front on two occasions.

The Pole, however, still took his first Grand Prix final victory, his previous GP triumph having come on points from an abandoned meeting in Latvia last year.

Holder is level with Woffinden at the top of the standings, a point ahead of Hancock and three ahead of fourth-placed Janowski.