PROUD promoter Matt Ford has tipped Pirates stars Brady Kurtz and Jack Holder to earn medals in the prestigious World Under-21 Championship.

The talented Aussie duo secured progress to the three-meeting series after advancing from qualifiers on the continent.

And Poole chief Ford reckons the pair can follow the likes of Darcy Ward, Bartosz Zmarzlik and Maciej Janowski in racing to podium success.

He told the Daily Echo: "I see both of them doing something. To beat Max Fricke and Maksym Drabik over three meetings is tough for anyone but these two lads are very capable of doing well.

"There is no reason why both of them can't finish on the rostrum and I hope they bring themselves and the club glory."

Holder was particularly impressive in rubber-stamping his place in the championship, in which he finished fourth last year.

The New South Wales-born racer scored 12 points from five qualifying rides at Italian track Terenzano on Sunday, resulting in a four-way tie with Eduard Krcmar, Kacper Woryna and Andreas Lyager.

All four riders qualified but it was Holder who took top spot on the night as he prevailed against his rivals in a run-off.

On Friday, Kurtz ensured progress with a second-place finish at Czech venue Pardubice.

The former Somerset star racked up 14 points and was beaten only by Drabik, with Dominik Kubera and Lukas Fienhage completing the top four.

Reigning champion Fricke failed to qualify from Terenzano but was handed a reprieve in the form of a permanent wild card, with Denmark's Patrick Hansen and Sweden's Alexander Woentin afforded the same privilege.

The series begins at Polish track Poznan on Sunday, July 23 with further rounds to follow at German circuit Gustrow on Friday, September 8 and Pardubice on Friday, September 29.

World Under-21 Championship field: Maksym Drabik, Brady Kurtz, Dominik Kubera, Lukas Fienhage, Robert Lambert, Jevgenijs Kostigovs, Dmitri Berge, Bartosz Smektala, Jack Holder, Eduard Krcmar, Kacper Woryna, Andreas Lyager, Max Fricke, Patrick Hansen, Alexander Woentin. Reserves: Michael Haertel, Gleb Chugunov, Jonas Jeppesen.

Meanwhile, Nicolai Klindt produced a superb display at Croatian track Gorican on Saturday to book his place in the Speedway European Championship.

The Pirates reserve followed up an 11 paid 14 haul in Esbjerg's 44-40 home win over Holstebro in the Danish Speedway League three days earlier with another stellar performance in the SEC Challenge.

Having scored nine points from five qualifying rides, Klindt won a run-off for third place with Krakow team-mate Mateusz Szczepaniak, Martin Smolinski and Kacper Gomolski.

The following day, Klindt bagged 10 paid 11 in Krakow's 47-43 win at Gdansk in the Polish second tier. Poole skipper Hans Andersen racked up 12 paid 14 as Lodz thumped visitors Rzeszow 53-37.

Doubling-up ace Kyle Newman totalled six paid seven in Ipswich's 46-44 win at Scunthorpe in the SGB Championship.