Pirates: Holder's Hagon deal a boost to GP hopes (From Bournemouth Echo)

Pirates: Holder's Hagon deal a boost to GP hopes

7:00am Saturday 23rd January 2010 in

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CHRIS Holder has revealed his World Championship ambitions have been boosted by a lucrative eight-bike sponsorship deal with Sussex businessman Martin Hagon.

Hagon is the former Eastbourne promoter who backed the Pirates star and Grand Prix new boy with a six-machine package last season.

Holder is currently relaxing on the beach down under after lifting his second Australian Champion-ship title earlier this month.

But preparations for his debut GP campaign are very much under way in Britain, with Hagon already working hard on his part of a deal worth thousands of pounds to Poole’s heat leader.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo, Sydney-based Holder told the Daily Echo: “Once the Aussie title rounds were over I went up the coast with my family to go surfing and relaxing on the beach.

“I can’t do much from here with regard to my preparations for the new season in Europe and my aim to make an impression in my debut year in the GP.

“However, I have the Martin Hagon deal tied up again for next season and he is ordering all the parts and the bikes.

“When I get back to Europe at the end of February or beginning of March, I can sit down with the mechanics to get it done.

“Martin’s provided eight complete rolling chassis, and the engines and carburettors are mine.

“It’s a really great deal and after our successful partnership in 2009 when I qualified for the GP, I’m really grateful Martin has come on board again.

“I can’t thank him enough for his support, I’m really happy and hopefully I can do a good job.

“My aim is to repay his faith by producing some good results for Pirates, in all the leagues and in the GP.”

Poole Castle Cover’s season gets underway with home and away challenge matches on March 24 and 25 against Swindon.

Pirates’ opening Elite League encounter is at home to Wolves on Easter Sunday, April 4 with a 4pm start.

Holder’s mouth-watering debut GP appearance will be at Leszno in Poland on April 24, but before then he has to decide whether to enter the Australian Longtrack Championship or not.

That takes place at Tamworth, New South Wales, on February 6, and Poole’s spearhead said: “I might do the longtrack meeting, but I don’t think there are any more speedway meetings here I’ll do.

“There’s a new track at Kurri Kurri I might be able to practice on, and if I can get my hands on a longtrack chassis, I’ll probably race at Tamworth, although there isn’t much equipment around.

“I won the Aussie 125cc longtrack title three or four years ago, and it would be great to have another crack at a title.”