Castle Cover Pirates co-promoter Matt Ford is urging the sport's Grand Prix hierarchy to fast-track Poole's 20-year-old Australian sensation Chris Holder into next year's world championship series. 

Holder missed out on qualification for next year's GP after suffering an exclusion and two engine failures in Lonigo, Italy earlier in the season, but Ford believes there are exceptional circumstances in selecting the young Australian into next year's competition. Ford raved: 'Anyone who has seen this kid will understand what I'm talking about. I have absolutely no doubt Chris Holder would light up the world championship.'

The Pirates supremo was talking up Holder ahead of Poole's top of the table clash with Lakeside at The Stadium tomorrow night, where the Aussie - in only his first full season of Elite League racing - is currently on an incredible run of  12 rides unbeaten by an opponent at Wimborne Road, stretching back three meetings when he fell in Heat 10 against Coventry. Since then the 20-year-old has reeled off two wins in Heats 13 and 15 against the Bees and then two consecutive 15-point maximums against Belle Vue and Eastbourne.

Ford continued: 'From a greedy point of view it would be better from a Poole perspective if he wasn't in next year's Grand Prix, but that's not the point here. I'm looking at it from a broader perspective. Chris Holder is one of the sport's glittering talents and is ready to be unleashed on the GP stage. He would be a huge asset for the series and the way in which he is improving could prove a major surprise in the competition.'

The Poole management are requesting that regular supporters get to the Stadium earlier than usual for tomorrow's blockbuster top of the table Sky Sports Elite League clash between Pirates and new league leaders Lakeside. And Ford believes the meeting will attract the biggest crowd of the season to the Stadium for the clash of the top two teams in the table -  victory for the home side would take the Pirates back above the Hammers in the league. Both clubs have lost just one league match in their last eight - with the Essex team the only side to remain unbeaten side at home in the Elite League table.

Ford said last night: 'It doesn't get much bigger than the two in-form teams in the league, the clubs first and second in the division meeting in a heavyweight head to head clash. We're expecting our biggest attendance of the season and would suggest regulars get the track earlier than usual to ensure they get their usual vantage point.'

At the time of going to press, both teams are expected to be at full strength although in a strange quirk of fate both Poole's Davey Watt and Lakeside's Andreas Jonsson are expecting the arrival of new babies at any time.  Watt's wife Fiona is expecting their second child tomorrow while Jonsson's partner is six days late. Both riders could be on parade, but could boss miss the fixture if either goes into labour.

Ford added: 'I think it's a first in speedway - the possibility that TWO riders are missing because their respective partners are both in labour!'  Lakeside are currently top of the Elite League table by one point, following their home win against Eastbourne on Monday night, with a match in hand.

Castle Cover Pirates:   
Chris Holder, Magnus Zetterstrom, Bjarne Pedersen ( captain ), Adam Skornicki, Bjarne Pedersen, Freddie Eriksson, Daniel Davidsson.

Lakeside
Andreas Jonsson, Leigh Lanham. Adam Shields ( captain ) Jonas Davidsson, Joonas Kylmakorpi, Ricky Kling, Lubos Tomicek.