MATT Ford has labelled Pirates star Chris Holder a "very precious commodity" after the young gun clinched the Australian title with a maximum 100-point return.

The 20-year-old beat Troy Batchelor from the back to triumph in the fifth and final round of the national championship at Sydney, with Cameron Woodward third and Jason Doyle fourth in yesterday's climax.

It meant Holder completed his fifth straight triumph to clinch his first senior Aussie crown.

Batchelor was second on 86 followed by Joe Screen (78), Woodward (78), Fredrik Lindgren (77) and Doyle (72).

Poole Castle Cover chief Ford said: "To my knowledge, it is the first time a rider has scored maximum points since the championship switched from a one-off final to a series.

"The reason people have been raving about Chris is that he truly can become one of the best ever riders in speedway.

"Obviously, the Aussie championship could have been different if Leigh Adams and Jason Crump had been riding.

"But you beat the riders there to be beaten, and that is what he has done.

"Chris has done it in style. He showed exactly what he can do.

"This lad is going to the top. Everyone in speedway is quite aware of that. He is a very precious commodity in speedway terms.

"We just hope he fulfils everything he is capable of achieving."

Former Pirate Batchelor, now with Swindon, and Eastbourne's Cameron Woodward join Holder in the Grand Prix qualifying rounds this year.

Doyle, the ex-Poole man who has just joined Somerset, is on standby as reserve to cover for injury.

Screen, a Brit, and Lindgren, a Swede, were not in the running for GP qualifying places as they took part as foreigners in the open championship.

Holder, who had already carried off three State titles this winter, now turns his attention to the Australian Under-21 Championship at Mildura on Sunday, January 27.

The Pirate will be aiming to win a fourth successive junior crown.

Ford, meanwhile, has confirmed Poole asset Craig Watson is wanted on loan by a fourth club.

The promoter would not disclose which outfit, but confirmed they were in the Premier League.

Mildenhall and Berwick are believed to have offered Watson terms for 2008, while an undisclosed Elite League club also had Ford's permission to talk to the rider.

Australian Championship: (final standings) C Holder 100 pts, Batchelor 86, Screen 78, Woodward 78, Lindgren 77, Doyle 72, Sitera 57, Ksiezak 47, Gathercole 43, Summers 39, Hedley 37, Proctor 30, McGowan 29, Grajczonek 28, Harding 28, Herne 26, J Holder 20, Sweetman 10.