Speedway Grand Prix rider Jack Holder added another New South Wales Speedway Solo Championship to his impressive record at the 2024 staging of the title meeting at the Oakburn Park track in Tamworth last Saturday night.
Jack’s toughest opponent looked to be his older brother and former world champion Chris and when the brothers met in their final heat both had been unbeaten up to that point. Jack looked to have the upper hand in their heat until a primary chain snapped and he fell awkwardly.
Even with that setback Jack Holder (12) was still the third top scorer and so qualified direct to the final behind Chris (15) and Queenslander Ryan Douglas (13) – that trio always looking a cut above their opposition.
The fourth rider to join them was decided in the B Final where Michael West had to take on three Queensland riders with Zaine Kennedy storming past West with Jacob Hook not far away after Tate Zischke had a mechanical problem.
Douglas made a good start in the Final and it was him and Chris Holder battling for the lead at the second corner when Jack Holder stormed between them and ran away leaving Chris to just get the better of Douglas for second as Zaine Kennedy was never a threat.
The line-up for the championship meeting had a huge gap of talent between the top and bottom of the scorechart and the best racing was invariably produced in the clashes featuring the riders who rode in the B final and the next few in line behind them.
Another Queenslander Daine Kennedy only missed the B Final on countback, Harry Ryan dropped a chain in one heat and that ultimately cost him a B Final berth, while Reid Battye was the most entertaining rider on show and he was deserving of more points for his efforts.
Any report is not complete without mention of the most consistently exciting races of the night turned on in the Under 16 250cc class, where Jordy Loftus and Viv Muddle were often side by side for lap after lap, with Loftus ultimately taking the honours in three of the five races.