CHRIS Holder vowed to add to his World Championship victory record after racking up his third career Grand Prix triumph in Leszno.

The Pirates captain came from behind to top the podium after a dramatic final in Poland on Saturday night.

Holder’s win followed gold medals in Cardiff (2010) and Gothenburg (2011).

The Echo was unable to contact Holder, but the 24-year-old told speedwaygp.com: “This track is so good to race on, which means you can win a race and then be last in the next one. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be on the pace in every one.

“You’ve just got to try and be in the top two to get your points. That isn’t easy, but my meeting turned out well.

“When the pressure was on, I performed. I needed to make count the two gate ones I had and I did. I couldn’t have asked for any more.

“My bike was so quick. Johnsy (tuner Peter Johns) has done an awesome job on that bike and the engine, so I’ve got to give him credit. We can all ride well – you need a good bike too.”

Holder’s night began in the worst possible way when he ran a last in his opening race, but the Aussie held his nerve in heat six to keep world champion Greg Hancock and pre-race favourite Jarek Hampel at bay to claim the win.

The Pirates spearhead then stormed past Emil Sayfutdinov in heat 11 to take second behind 2010 world title winner Tomasz Gollob and sit on the brink of the semi-finals.

However, Holder missed the gate in his next race and was forced to claim another second place the hard way after passing Peter Ljung and Bjarne Pedersen.

In his final qualification race of the night, Holder needed at least second to secure a semi-final place, but the reigning Australian champion went one better.

After emerging from the first turn in the lead, Holder had to take the outside line to halt the progress of Hans Andersen, his second race win of the night ensuring an early gate choice in the semi-finals.

Put up against Andreas Jonsson, Nicki Pedersen and Hancock in the first semi, Holder closed the door on the reigning world champion to slot in behind leader Jonsson.

But the Aussie was jet-propelled and soared up the inside of the Swede on the third lap. Jonsson fought hard, but Holder was simply too quick.

And in one of the finest GP finals of recent years, Holder once again had to do the hard work from the back.

Gollob went high and wide into the dirt coming off turn one of the opening lap, relegating the Pirate to third place. And once Jonsson had steamed past Holder, it appeared he had it all to do.

But Holder returned the favour on Jonsson, before charging up the inside of Hampel and almost running into the back of leader Gollob.

The Aussie was super-fast and the inevitable pass on home favourite Gollob came at the start of the final lap as the cheers from a partisan home crowd slipped into silence.

Holder added: “It was mayhem. The four of us were just in and out of each other the whole time.

“When I chased Tomasz in the heat race, even then I had a lot of speed on him. It was just a matter of getting it perfect because Tomasz doesn’t make mistakes. You’ve got to out-ride him a little bit.”

Asked whether more gold medals were on his agenda, Holder said: “Of course. New Zealand was no good and I’m not worried about that one now. But this one was awesome and I can’t ask for much more. I was more serious in practice and it worked out.”