Dave's Holden all the Aces!

For the Great Harwood-based racer has bought a new long-wheelbase outfit in a bid to win the six-round series, based the famous Merseyside circuit.

The machine - an LCR used by Swiss sidecar legend Rolf Biland to win the World Championship in 1983 - will replace the familiar short-wheelbase Ireson-Honda that carried Dave and passenger Dick Jacques to victory in the 2005 EMRA series.

And despite spending over 10 years as a museum exhibit at Donington Park, Dave is certain his sidecar classic will be a winner.

"I saw it race last season at the Mallory Park Festival of Sidecars in the hands of 2002 world champion Steve Abbott, and it was phenomenal. Once I knew it was for sale I had to have it." he said..

Now in his 28th year of sidecar racing, the hugely-popular Holden is planning on retaining his EMRA - East Midlands Racing Association - title and adding the Ace of Aintree.

He said: "The LCR should make the difference between finishing second, as we did last year, and finishing first. It has excellent traction.

"That's where I was struggling last season with my Ireson, which was hopeless at getting going. I missed out on the Ace of Aintree title because I seemed to spend every race playing catch-up. With the LCR, hopefully it will be everyone else who has to catch me!

"The outfit is a proper classic and brilliantly engineered. The suspension set-up has been done by Abbott ready for me to race this season. Although it came without an engine, I've had the 500cc ADM motor I used last year rebuilt and installed ready for a shakedown test next month at Mallory Park.

"The different layout of the bike means I'll have to alter my riding style and that may take a bit of practice. I need to get used to it - and the handling - before the season starts proper, but I'm hoping to be ready in time for Oulton Park's Easter meeting."

Backing his bid is CMS of Whitebirk, Blackburn, THG Motor Bodies of Longridge, and Silkolene Oils.