Former speedway world champion Chris Holder is set to compete in this weekend’s national championships as his recovery to full fitness nears completion.
The 2012 world champion, from New South Wales, was sidelined for second half of the 2013 world championship following a nasty crash in July.
The accident, while riding for UK squad Poole Pirates at Coventry, saw Holder suffer a broken pelvis, shoulder, hip and a shattered heel.
The injuries confined him to a wheelchair while his speedway career hung in the balance.
He made a competitive return on Boxing Day by winning the Jason Crump Classic at Kurri Kurri,.
The 26-year-old has gained confidence ahead of the Australian Championships at the same venue this weekend.
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Holder is hoping the event will benefit his recovery so he can be 100 percent fit for the new world championship season, which begins with April’s New Zealand Grand Prix.
“I was a little bit nervous because I’d not ridden for six months,” said Holder.
“It was such a relief when everything worked out fine. I was smiling from ear-to-ear.
“There’s some really competitive racing at the Aussie champs and it would be great if I could win.
“It would give me a little bit of confidence coming back from the injuries and show that I am heading in the right direction.”
Holder has revealed he has some way to go to complete a full recovery as he continues to suffer from pain in his heel.
He has plates and screws placed in his foot to aid the healing process and he is expected to suffer soreness until they are removed.
The long road to back to fitness has given Holder plenty of time to think.
After watching from the sidelines as close friend Tai Woffinden took his world championship crown, he is even hungrier to win again this year.
“I was happy for Tai. I’m good mates with him but at the same time I really wished I was out there competing,” Holder added.
“It was massively hard to take, watching the other guys compete and losing your world title without being able to do anything about it.
“It was so disappointing, but it has made me more determined for the 2014 season.”
The opening round of the 2014 Speedway World Championship begins at Auckland on April 5.
