Aussie hero hails Holder (From Thisisdorset)

Aussie hero hails Holder

7:00am Monday 14th July 2008

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AUSSIE ace Leigh Adams has praised Poole's Chris Holder for the way he has adapted so quickly to the demanding hurly-burly of World Team Cup racing.

Adams might have been Australia's hero as he beat Poland's previously unbeaten Jarek Hampel in a dramatic run-off in round one at Leszno to fire his side straight into the final.

But the man from Mildura was quick to recognise the young Poole rider's vital 11-point haul for his country in their nail-biting overtime victory.

Holder, who had struggled to get three points from three rides in last year's final at Leszno, more than trebled that this time on the big 330-metre bowl.

His tally included a mightily impressive win over his World Under-21 title rival Emil Sajfutdinov, who snapped at his back wheel for all four laps, and a sensational triumph over track record holder Krzysztof Kasprzak.

Holder had also led Tomasz Gollob for three laps before losing out on second place to the enigmatic Pole in heat 15.

Adams, who had got 20 points from his opening six rides, said: "The big thing with Chris is the leap he has taken this year from last year. We chucked him in at the deep end and he did pretty well then.

"But this year he has beaten some big names. He's been absolutely awesome."

Poland had been firmly in control after a shaky start and led Australia by six going into heat 19.

Then the Aussies enjoyed an outrageous slice of good fortune when Wieslaw Jagus retired on the back straight while leading with engine problems.

That allowed Adams to storm through for a joker six-point victory to tie the scores, and with Holder beating Kasprzak next time out, Australia were suddenly in front with five races to go.

Four ahead with three heats remaining, Craig Boyce's outfit were almost home and dry.

But Ryan Sullivan finished third behind Sajfutdinov and Rune Holta in race 23, before Pirates' Davey Watt was outfoxed by wily Gollob, who expertly team-rode' young Russian Grigory Laguta round for a 5-1' against the luckless Aussie.

Hampel kept cool to beat Holder for first in race 25 to tie the scores and force a run-off.

However, Hampel couldn't repeat the trick in a run-off against Adams despite having the inside trap and leading out of the gate.

Adams, whose only defeat of the meeting had come against the Pole in race seven, coolly slipped inside Hampel off the second turn and sped off for a comfortably victory that propelled Australia directly to the Vojens final on Saturday.

Australia 56: 1 Jason Crump (3-1-2-2-3) 11, 2 Leigh Adams (3-2-3-3-6-3) 20, 3 Ryan Sullivan (2-3-1-1-1) 8, 4 Davey Watt (2-3-0-1) 6, 5 Chris Holder (3-2-1-3-2) 11. Team manager: Craig Boyce.

Poland 56: 1 Krzysztof Kasprzak (1-2-3-2-2) 10, 2 Rune Holta (2-3-3-3-2) 13, 3 Tomasz Gollob (3-3-2-1-3) 12, 4 Jarek Hampel (3-3-3-3-3) 15, 5 Wieslaw Jagus (1-2-2-ret-1) 6.

Team manager: Marek Cieslak.

Russia 36: 1 Denis Gizatullin (0-1-3-2-1) 7, 2 Grigory Laguta (1-1-1-2-2) 7, 3 Danil Ivanov (1-1-1-1-1) 5, 4 Renat Gafurov (1-1-0-1-0) 3, 5 Emil Sajfutdinov (2-2-2-2-6) 14.

Team manager: Andrey Savin.

Hungary 10: 1 Matej Ferjan (2-0-1-2-4-ret) 9, 2 Sandor Tihanyi (exc tapes-0-0-0) 0, 3 Jozsef Tabaka (0-0-0-1-0) 1, 4 Norbert Magosi (0-0-0-0-0) 0, 5 Laszio Szatmari (0-ret-0-0-0) 0.

Team manager: Tibor Jacso.

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