CHRIS HOLDER MAKES BRITISH RETURN WITH SHEFFIELD AS TIGERS KEEP WOFFY

Former Speedway GP world champion Chris Holder has ended his six-year absence from British speedway after joining Sheffield ahead of the Sports Insure Premiership play-offs.

Holder’s arrival means triple world champion Tai Woffinden – signed as a short-term injury replacement for Chris’ younger brother Jack Holder – will now complete the campaign with the Tigers.

Jack will now not return to the Owlerton club for the end-of-season title run-in. It’s unclear when he will be back on track, although he will hope to be fit for the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff this Saturday, where he will bid to step up his World Championship medal bid.

Chris’ arrival comes as part of a double change, which also sees Danish rider Claus Vissing join Sheffield, with Great Britain international Adam Ellis and Lewis Kerr making way.

Sheffield co-promoter Damien Bates said: “As a club we didn’t ideally want to make any changes, but one or two things have happened over the past few days which means our hand has been forced.

“Firstly, we’ve been in regular discussions with Jack (Holder) since he broke his wrist and we’ve been monitoring his situation closely.

“Jack has been honest about where he is at and whilst he is close to getting back on a bike, he doesn’t want to let Sheffield down should he realise he’s not quite 100 percent race fit.

“Obviously we’re pretty gutted about that as we would’ve loved Jack to have been back with us for the business end of the season after everything he has given to the club this year.

“What that has enabled us to do is keep hold of Tai until the end of the season which, on the other hand, is a massive boost for Sheffield Speedway.”

Bates added: “Elsewhere, recent commitment issues from other riders in the team suddenly gave us a bit of a headache, and at such an important time of the season, we felt it was something we simply had to address.

“It’s great to see Chris Holder back in British Speedway and this is yet another coup for the club because he is still a top-class rider.

“Coming into the middle order of the team, we feel Chris can do a job for Sheffield and we know he’s going to slot in pretty much instantly as he has been at a number of our meetings this season.

“As for Claus, he has had a solid season with Glasgow in the Championship, he brings with him plenty of experience and he is ready to show why he’s worthy of a team spot in the top league once again.

“I hope this now creates a more settled environment at Sheffield; there has been way too much uncertainty for my liking out of nowhere recently that has mainly come from rumours.

“Our focus is to now make sure we get into that top four and have a real good go at going one further and winning the league.”