AUSSIE JACK HOLDER’S WARSAW FINAL HEARTBREAK

Aussie star Jack Holder admits his Warsaw final heartbreak has only made him even hungrier to claim a dream Speedway GP win.

The Appin-born ace was stopped a lap short of a near-certain victory in the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw final at PGE Narodowy on May 13 after Bartosz Zmarzlik and Jason Doyle collided as they battled over third place.

Swedish star Freddie Lindgren, who was on course for second spot in the first run of the race, made a much better start in the re-run to snatch victory away, while Holder just about fended off Zmarzlik for second on the line.

The result still fires Holder up to a career-best fourth place in the Speedway GP World Championship on 26 points – just 10 short of top two Zmarzlik and Lindgren ahead of the Prague FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic on June 3.

Having only missed out on the Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia semi-finals on April 29 by virtue of Lindgren having a superior FIM ranking after they tied on countback and head-to-head records along with Max Fricke, luck hasn’t always been on Holder’s side this season. But he said: “What happened in Croatia only added fuel to the fire, and Warsaw has added more.

“I am just over the moon. It was nearly a dream come true. But it still was a dream come true, being up on the podium in Warsaw.

“I am just stoked to be in the final. I was in front, but that’s just speedway. How many times has a person been in front and then missed the start in the re-run? I am a little bit disappointed, but at least I got second. If I had been third, I would have been a little bit unhappier.

“I have wanted to reach a final since I have been in the Grand Prix. Now I have got it done, so there is less pressure on myself really. When you get stuff done you realise ‘oh, I can do it.’

“I have made some big steps in the right direction and had a good start to the season compared to last year. If this was last year, I would haven’t been really happy. I would have been kicking stuff because I had it won.

“But it’s a new year and a new me. I feel good in the GPs. I feel like I belong here. 

I knew I was fast enough. I popped out in front. I looked behind and thought ‘no way! I’ve got it!’ But these things happen.”