He has been close to qualifying for the national races several times this season but, until this event, has had to be satisfied with podium placings in the A final.
‘I’m very happy,’ said Holmes after the conclusion of the season.
‘I’d hoped to get to a national final next season, so it’s great to do that at the last event of this season and hopefully, it will be a good start for next year.’ Holmes and fellow-Jerseyman Mick Bertram were in the same qualifying heats, Holmes starting in the second row and Bertram on the fourth.
Holmes’s second-place finish qualified him for the national finals, while Bertram’s tenth place earned him a place in the repechage.
Holmes started at the back of the grid in both national races, after crashing in the timed practice, but managed to battle his way back to an impressive 22nd out of 30 in the first race and, despite an early crash on the off-road section, 20th in the second.
Bertram finished sixth in the repechage and, from the second row of the grid in the semi-final, got the holeshot and was first across the line.
He received a five-second stop-go penalty for jumping the start in the second, but rode well to finish fourth, just missing a podium position.
This ended the 2004 season on a high note for both men.
They will compete in the French competition next season, and in some rounds of the British championship.
Holmes is sponsored by Poole Motorcycles and Bertram by Gordon Bisson Honda.
