DAVEY Watt believes Chris Holder has got what it takes to become world champion after watching his close pal come of age on the big stage.

Watt looked on from the pits as Holder drew on all his resources to storm to victory in the European Grand Prix in Poland a fortnight ago.

Holder, who had trailed in last in his opening heat, was at his imperious best as he claimed a third GP win of his career in Leszno.

And the Australian champion will be looking to maintain his bid for honours when the series continues in the Czech Republic tonight.

Watt, who captained Pirates to the Elite League crown last season, was part of Holder’s entourage in Poland and told the Daily Echo: “Chris just needs to keep doing what he is doing.

“He is already one of the best riders in the world and showed he could recover from a setback in Leszno. The build up to a Grand Prix is stressful and can be difficult for riders to deal with.

“Any points you can get from your first race are a bonus and Chris has realised that. He progressed through the meeting, got better and better and ended up winning. A world champion doesn’t panic and always keeps a cool head.

“It was great to see Chris keep a level head. He didn’t panic or get flustered when things didn’t go according to plan at the start. He worked harder and got his rewards. The meeting couldn’t have started any worse and couldn’t have finished any better.

“It was brilliant to see him mature so much during a Grand Prix. He has shown he can do that now and just needs to do it consistently throughout the series. There is so much pressure but he has shown he can handle it and has shown what he can do.”

Watt, who is riding for Lakeside this season and who was joined in Leszno by Pirates ace Darcy Ward, added: “Those GP weekends can be so stressful and we went there to help him relax.

“Chris always has a lot going on and a lot of people need his time and attention. There is a lot expected of him and everybody wants a part of him. Sometimes, it is nice to take a step back and hang out with some mates who don’t expect anything from you.

“It was great for us to watch and be with him in the pits throughout the meeting. We spoke to him and tried to reassure him after he hadn’t made a great start.

“He was fine, he kept his head and got what he deserved.”

Holder, who fared poorly in this season’s first GP in New Zealand, suffered semi-final heartbreak in Prague last year when he fell after amassing nine points.