HOLDER IS BACK!

Matt Ford confirmed Jack Holder would spearhead the Poole Pirates’ 2019 SGB Premiership title defence, before revealing his delight at the ‘Holder’ name would once again be back on a skull and crossbones race jacket.

Last season’s title-winning septet was the first Pirates team since 2007 not to feature either Jack Holder or elder brother Chris.

And Ford admitted he was relieved to get one of the siblings into his 2019 line-up after Chris was unable to race for the Dorset club as planned last season.

Ford said: “The Holder name is synonymous with Poole Speedway, like so many others in the past, and to not have one of the boys in the team last year for the first time in more than a decade was hugely disappointing.

“But Jack was always in my plans to bring back in 2019 and it makes perfect sense for him to be back with his parent club as our number one. Chris certainly feels Jack is ready to take on the number one spot as he did so brilliantly for so many years. It would have been nice to line up with both brothers, but sadly at the start of the 2019 season that won’t be possible. I still believe Chris has a future with the club and I know he wants it as much as I do, but there are still issues off track that need to be resolved.”

The younger Holder enjoyed a fruitful spell on loan at Somerset last season following his 2017 Pirates debut campaign, helping the Rebels to a play-off semi-final against his parent club.

The Sydneysider, though, who comes into the 2019 Poole septet on a 7.39 average, ended up in Poole Hospital during the second leg after clashing with 2017 and now 2019 Pirates team-mate Brady Kurtz.

Ford added: “Jack improved hugely last season and took a real stride forwards in terms of his ability. I think going out on loan was a good move for him last season at that stage of his career and working with Jason Doyle has definitely helped him. Last time Jack and Brady rode against each other they ended up in hospital so while I certainly wouldn’t want that situation again, it does show their competitive edge and I think that can only help us.

I’m pleased with how the 2019 line-up is taking shape and, less one or two T’s to cross and I’s to dot, we will have the whole one-to-seven announced before Christmas.”