PIRATES star Chris Holder kept his outside hopes of a world championship medal alive with an 11-point haul at the penultimate round in Torun.
The 29-year-old closed to six points the gap on third-placed Brit Tai Woffinden thanks to his efforts on his Polish home track.
However, Sydneysider Holder has plenty of competition for the overall top three after Bartosz Zmarzlik finished third at Marian Rose MotoArena, placing him two points behind two-time world champion Woffinden.
Former Poole rider Jason Doyle's hopes of claiming his first global triumph received a huge body blow when he went under the air fence following a collision with Chris Harris in his opening outing.
Doyle withdrew from the meeting with shoulder, elbow and lung injuries and his early exit allowed another ex-Pirates flier, Greg Hancock, to take an 11-point lead at the summit of the standings.
Poole's late-season signing, Antonio Lindback endured a tough night as he managed just five points.
Lindback is now 11th overall, some three points behind the safety of the top eight and a place in next year's Grand Prix series.
The final round takes place in Melbourne on October 22.
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