IT was always going to be a night to remember.
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But former world speedway champion Chris Holder made it that little bit more special when he took out the Ashley Jones Memorial Speedway meet at Diamond Park on Saturday night.
In front of a 3000-strong crowd, Holder held off his younger brother, Jack, to honour his mate who died in a racing accident at Myrtleford in 2005.
The race was one of only two Holder is competing in during the Australian summer.
“Tonight is all about the Jones family and remembering Ashley,” Holder said.
“To be honest, results aren’t a big issue.
“I just wanted to come along and support the family and put on a good show.
“It’s been awesome.
“It’s my first time at the track at Albury and I’m impressed.
“Shane (Clare) and his helpers have done well to get a good field and I can see it becoming a yearly thing.
“Ash was a home town boy and really popular.”
Holder and younger brother Jack were quick out of the gate in the four-lap final but Jack was unable to catch his older brother.
Max Fricke came third with Justin Sedgemen fourth.
Holder did several laps with the chequered flag to acknowledge the big crowd.
Holder will miss the Australian championships and plans to return to England in coming weeks.
“I’m not doing the Aussie championships for the first time in I don’t know how many years,” he said.
“I just think I need a bit of a break.
“Hopefully I can get back to where I was a few years ago.
“I want to get back to full fitness.
“The last few years I have been coming back from injuries and never really getting on top of them.”
Ashleys’ father, Buck, said it was an emotional night.
“As a family it’s overwhelming just to see the people who are here and riders who have committed,” Buck said.
“We’re very happy.
“It’s been a really positive night.
“A lot of work has gone into the track - a good track is good racing.”
In the junior 250cc class, world youth cup champion Matt Gilmore showed why he won in France last July by taking out the race.
James Davies, Oliver Hamilton and Aden Clare rounded out the field.
Ashley Jones was a young rider with great potential.
He completed a championship winning season in the British Premier Speedway League during 2005 riding for the Kings Lynn Stars.
The season established him as an international level rider and he was set to return to the Stars in 2006 for their title defence.
But his potential was never realised as he died following injuries sustained from an accident during his first meeting back in Australia.
Albury-Wodonga Motorcycle Club president Shane Clare said he couldn’t have asked for a better night under the newly installed permanent lighting.
“It was a special event,” Clare said.
“All of these riders are here out of respect for Ashley and his family.”
