IF consistency is key, Chris Holder is showing real promise in his quest for a world title.

But as he found to his cost in Prague, one little mistake can prove pivotal.

The last Pirate to win the world crown, Mark Loram, did so in 2000 without winning a single Grand Prix.

Loram did, however, reach every semi-final that year, while his main challengers to the silverware faltered at different times during the campaign.

Holder has not quite reached that level of regularity, but his last-eight spot in the Czech Republic on Saturday could go a long way towards knocking on the door of greatness.

It could have been so much better for the Poole Coastal Aluminium captain, though, had he not missed his only gate of the night when it mattered most.

The 24-year-old’s evening began where his epic European Grand Prix triumph in Leszno two weeks ago had ended – on the shale alongside Tomasz Gollob and Jarek Hampel.

This time, though, the two Poles got the better of their younger title rival to relegate Holder to third place in heat two.

Holder was simply out-muscled on the first turn and it looked as if, once again, the Aussie would have to reach the semi-finals the hard way.

The Sydneysider was saved by Greg Hancock’s spill in race six after being left standing in gate four at the start.

Reigning world champion Hancock, though, was forced wide battling with Nicki Pedersen and slammed into the air fence after ditching his bike.

With all four riders back for the re-run, Holder took off from the outside gate to swoop in front of Hancock, Pedersen and Andreas Jonsson.

He never looked back, kick-starting his evening’s work at the second time of asking.

Holder then became the first rider to lower the colours of in-form Emil Sayfutdinov in race nine, holding on out in front as the lively Russian pressed during the opening lap.

With the semi-finals looming, Holder made sure of his place and a decent pick of gate when he racked up his third race win of the night in heat 16.

Storming out of gate two, Holder quickly ridded himself of the attentions of Kenneth Bjerre, Antonio Lindback and Chris Harris.

And the reigning Australian champion ensured he would finish second in the qualifying standings behind Jason Crump with a single point from his final regulation race of the night.

But, despite having the prime pick and selecting gate one for his semi-final against Gollob, Pedersen and Sayfutdinov, Holder made a woeful start and could only manage third behind the Dane and the Pole. That left him with 12 points on the night.

The old stagers, as they had done in New Zealand in the opening round of the championship, once again proved the likes of Holder still have a way to go before they can start thinking about taking over the mantle.

Hancock, Gollob, Crump and eventual winner Pedersen took to the starting gates in the final with nine world titles between them and a combined age of 153.

But despite all that experience and canny, wily will to win, the young guns are getting closer – and Holder is leading the pack.

World Championship standings: (top-eight) 1 Jason Crump 44, 2 Greg Hancock 43, 3 Tomasz Gollob 43, 4 Nicki Pedersen 42, 5 Jarek Hampel 39, 6 Chris Holder 35, 7 Antonio Lindback 26, 8 Emil Sayfutdinov 25.