Champ Holder fires warning shot ahead of final
6:00am Monday 22nd October 2012 in Latest Sport News By Andy Warren
WORLD champion Chris Holder warmed up for tonight’s deciding second leg in the best possible way with victory in the Elite League Riders’ Championship at Blunsdon on Saturday night.
The Poole captain only failed to win one of his rides as he stormed to victory over Niels-Kristian Iversen and Chris Harris, while Rory Schlein was taken to hospital following two crashes in the final.
The Australian was pleased to be crowned the best rider in British speedway having already won the world title in 2012, but was quick to shift his attention to tonight’s meeting as he bids to lead his side to Elite League glory.
“The track was good and I felt good all night, and when your stuff is working it is really good because it is good title to win,” he said.
“It has been a great season and I can’t complain with how it has all gone, and all I want to do is cap it off with the Elite League title on Monday night.
“It has been very frustrating trying to get it going because of all the rain-offs we have had, but no-one can help that.
“When we get it on it will be a really good night, and it is easy to keep motivated because it is such a big meeting for us.”
It looked as though teenage Dane Michael Jepsen Jensen was going to be the man to beat as the Peterborough rider stormed to victory in his opening two riders, but the young star ran a last in his final heat to miss out on a direct passage to the final.
The Dane held second place in the semi-final as he looked to make the last four, but a superb move from outgoing Grand Prix rider Chris Harris eased the Coventry man through along with race winner Schlein.
The Australian looked to have got the better Holder in the second staging of the race, but hit the fence hard and was taken to hospital having also picked up an ankle in the first attempt.
The Robins were represented by Hans Andersen and Peter Kildemand, while Troy Batchelor missed through illness, but the Swindon duo failed to progress as they scored eight and six respectively.
Wolverhampton number one Freddie Lindgren suffered an off night as he scored three from his five rides, while former Robins Mads Korneliussen and Ryan Fisher scored eight and seven.
