AUSSIE CHAMPS ROUND 3 RESULT - HOLDER INJURED

Chris Holder was ruled out of the 3rd round of the Australian championships after a crash in practice landed him with a suspected broken wrist at Undera, Victoria, effectively wiping out any distant hopes he had of retaining his title.

The practice session was subsequently abandoned and intense remedial track work went on before the event itself could go ahead.

Holder's 2015 Pirate team-mate Dakota North was in good early form with three straight wins but then concluded his programmed rides with a second and a third, as he accumulated 12 points, sufficient only to route him into the B final alongside Tyson Nelson (11), Rohan Tungate (9) and Justin Sedgmen (9). Victory in that B final saw North join the three 14-pointers - former Pirates Sam Masters and Jason Doyle - the series leader - and Belle Vue's Max Fricke who had booked the automatic places.

Masters ended Doyle's domination of the series with Fricke second and Doyle in third. The result leaves Doyle needing just 6 points from Saturday's final round at Kurri Kurri to seal the championship.

Undera scorers: Sam Masters  14+4; Max Fricke 14+3; Jason Doyle 14+2; Dakota North 12+1; Tyson Nelson 11; Rohan Tungate 9; Justin Sedgmen 9;
Josh Grajczonek 8; Josh Coyne 6; Brodie Waters 6; Jack Fallon 5; Kieran Sproule 5; Jordan Stewart 2; Jake Allen  2; Brady Webb 1; Joey Ringwood 1

Standings after 3 rounds: Jason Doyle 51; Justin Sedgmen 37; Max Fricke 37; Sam Masters  36; Dakota North 35; Rohan Tungate 31; Tyson Nelson  30;
Josh Grajczonek 29; Chris Holder  21; Jack Holder  15; Brodie Waters 14; Jake Allen  13; Kieran Sproule 10; Josh Coyne 9
Jack Fallon 8; Joey Ringwood 6; Jordan Stewart 2; Brady Webb 1