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Holder tells of torment

CHRIS HOLDER has broken his silence on the most painful 15 months of his life.

The Australian Grand Prix star split from wife Sealy two years ago and has since been involved in a bitter row over access to their six-year-old son Max.

He also had a nightmare 2017 on the track, slipping down the world rankings and being sacked, banned and fined for quitting a King’s Lynn Premiership match after complaining about track conditions.

“Last year was a disaster, it was terrible,” he said on former world champion Greg Hancock’s podcast ‘Reel45’.

“I didn’t get to see a lot of Max, which really hurt.

“He has just turned six, I didn’t get invited to the birthday party but we had our own little one.

“He’s good and he’s fine, that’s the main thing, and if I can sort all the little things I’ll be fine.

“The other stuff is lingering in the background but I’m a lot further down the line than I was last year.

“It’s good that it’s working out better at the moment and all I’m thinking about is racing.”

The 2012 world champion, 30, has already missed the first month of the new season and has had to be temporarily replaced in the Poole squad by Denmark international Peter Kildemand.

But Holder hopes to take part in his first meeting in Poland this Sunday.

He added: “It’s been a rocky start, not what I wanted.

“Thankfully the weather has been pretty average and no one is getting much riding in, which is good for me.”