Chris Holder has moved a step closer to claiming his fourth Australian Solo Speedway Championship following a dominant performance to take out the second round at Kurri Kurri, New South Wales on Saturday night.
The two-time defending Champion was unbeaten from start to finish, taking a maximum 15 points from the heats before holding off the determine efforts of Victorian Cameron Woodward, Queenslander Davey Watt and Newcastle rider Sam Masters in the Final.
In a brilliant night of racing at Loxford Park Holder, a Taree-native, and Speedway World Cup teammate Watt had the best of the early goings before Watt came unstuck.
A third behind Holder and Taylor Poole in his third heat was followed by a DNF and had Watt in danger of missing the B Final.
A win in his final heat ensured a B Final appearance as Holder, Woodward and Masters booked there passages straight to the A Final.
Watt faced Poole, Corey Gathercole and local star Rohan Tungate in the B Final and did not disappoint, taking charge early to win his way through.
A brilliant start in the Final from Holder ensured he would not be challenged and claimed back-to-back round wins to establish a five-point lead heading into the final round at Gillman Speedway in Adelaide on Saturday 21 January.
2012 Australian Solo Speedway Championship
Round Two Heat Scores:
Chris Holder 15 points;
Sam Masters 13;
Cameron Woodward 11;
Davey Watt,
Taylor Poole,
Corey Gathercole 10;
Rohan Tungate 9;
Justin Sedgmen 8;
Jack Holder,
Jake Anderson7;
Todd Kurtz 6;
Robert Ksiezak 5;
Harley Horwood 4;
Michael Dyer 3;
Joey Ringwood,
Daine Stevens 1.
Round Two Results:
C Holder 20 points;
Woodward 18;
Watt 17;
Masters 16;
Gathercole 15;
Poole 14;
Tungate 13;
Sedgmen 12;
Holder 11;
Anderson 10;
Kurtz 9;
Ksiezak 7;
Horwood 6;
Dyer 4;
Ringwood 3;
Stevens 2
Championship Standings:
C Holder 40 points;
Watt 35;
Masters 32;
Woodward 32;
Tungate 30;
Poole 27;
Gathercole 27;
Sedgmen 27;
Kurtz 19;
J Holder 17;
Ksiezak 14;
Stevens 13;
Kozza Smith 9;
Dyer 8;
Horwood 6;
Ringwood 3;
Troy Batchelor 2.
