The FIM European Grand Prix from Leszno was one of the most hotly contested and best that we have seen in quite some years, and I'm not just talking about the spectacular final. Poole Pirates and Australia star Chris 'Noddy' Holder stormed to take the chequered flag and a vital win in his 2012 SGP campaign ahead of crowd and bookies' favourites Tomasz Gollob and Jarek Hampel with World number 2 Andreas Jonsson in fourth.
The meeting was a joy to behold with passing appearing from the first round of heats - a rarity in the past few seasons - that lit up an expectant crowd after the bonanza in the previous round from Auckland. Home favourite Tomasz Gollob got off to a poor start scoring just a single point from his first two rides, whilst wild card Przemyslaw Pawlicki won both of his opening rides only to pick up one point from his final three, meaning that he missed out on the semis. Defending World Champion Greg Hancock solidly scored in the qualifying heats to accumulate nine points; enough to see him through to the semis where his bike packed up, sending him home early.
Speaking of engine problems, it was another horror show from the sole British representative Chris Harris who managed just three points from his five rides, two of which his bikes were unable to see him through to the finish. It seems as though the £20,000 that he recently spent has been money down the drain.
After a disastrous start, finishing last, Holder was able to rustle up a 10 point haul, giving him first choice of gates in his semi-final which he took full advantage of, passing Jonsson to take the three points and another first pick of the gates for the final. In the other semi, Hampel led home his countryman Gollob, forcing the impressive and consistent Crump and Bjerre to miss out on the final.
And what a final it was. Pundits around the world were unable to see any other result than a Polish one-two finish. Little did they know that Holder was going to completely re-write the script. After a poor start the Aussie was last but managed to clamp Jonsson down on the inside and ease passed him. Whilst that manoeuvre was ongoing Gollob had forced leader Hampel out wide in order to pass him, leaving a big enough gap for Holder to follow through. Normally in Poland that would be that and I would be here writing about another master-class from Gollob on Polish shale. But I am not. Indeed, it was Holder in an Adams-esque move on his 41st birthday who stole a march around the kerb, gaining enough grip to speed passed the 2010 World Champion to stun the Leszno crowd as Holder held on to take the crown.
This win shows that Holder's head just wasn't in the right frame of mind in New Zealand after the birth of his son Max only hours before tapes up. On this sort of form he can definitely challenge for a World Championship medal and a marked improvement on the consecutive eighth places that bely his class. Although to do that he will have to overhaul current leader Hampel, defending World Champion Hancock and former World Champs Gollob and Crump. If Auckland and Leszno are anything to go by, then this truly is going to be an exciting SGP series
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