PIRATES chief Matt Ford has shrugged off sceptics' criticism that Chris Holder would not have won the Australian Championship if Jason Crump and Leigh Adams had taken part.

Holder, the 20-year-old Poole Castle Cover new boy, swept to his first national title earlier this month by winning all five rounds of the competition.

But some critics were quick to point out that Holder would probably not have won overall if he had come up against the two Grand Prix stars, who chose not to take part in this winter's series.

Crump, a two-times former world champion who finished third in the global event last year, had won the 2007 Aussie title with Adams, the world number two, a multi-national champion.

One of those experienced men would have been expected to lift this year's crown if they had lined up at the tapes alongside Holder.

However, Ford said: "Jason and Leigh have been around for a long time and deserve a break.

"I think those guys' ambition of winning the Australian title is not as important as it used to be.

"Their commitment is on the GP and greatness individually.

"Therefore I think it was a wise choice for them. It is good that they have had a break from speedway and they will benefit from it when it comes to the domestic and GP season shortly."

Ford added: "I think everyone has to serve their apprenticeship.

"Everyone else, like Leigh and Jason, has done that, so Chris has to serve his.

"Leigh is 31, Jason is 32 and Chris, at 20, can look forward to a long and healthy progressive career. I think we will see him become one of the very best the sport has had to offer."