KENNETH Bjerre was left to reflect on what might have been after missing out on a place in the final of the FIM European Grand Prix.

The Readypower Panthers skipper raced to eight-points from his five qualifying rides in Leszno, Poland – securing a semi-final spot – but going off the graveyard gate 4 he couldn’t make any impression on the home duo of Jaroslaw Hampel and Tomas Gollob and finished last with triple World Champion Jason Crump third.

Hampel and Gollob then lit up the partisan home crown by producing some race heroics in the final – knocking lumps out of each other as they battled for the lead – but were taken by surprise on the third lap when Chris Holder exploited a gap on the inside and passed them both for the third GP win of his career.

It was, however, a much-improved performance from Bjerre following the opening round in New Zealand last month where mechanical gremlins restricted him to just four-points.

He said: "It was a mixed night with good and bad races, but I'm happy with the bikes and engines and will come back strong for the enxt Grand Prix."

The next round of the series is in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday May 12.

FIM EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX, LESZNO (POINTS): Chris Holder 19, Tomasz Gollob 16, Jaroslaw Hampel 15, Andreas Jonsson 13, Jason Crump 12, Nicki Pedersen 10, Greg Hancock 9, Kenneth Bjerre 8, Fredrik Lindgren 8, Przemyslaw Pawlicki 7, Emil Sayfutdinov 7, Peter Ljung 6, Hans Andersen 5, Antonio Lindback 4, Chris Harris 3, Bjarne Pedersen 2

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER TWO ROUNDS): Jaroslaw Hampel (POL) 33, Tomasz Gollob (POL) 31, Greg Hancock (USA) 31, Jason Crump (AUS) 24, Nicki Pedersen (DEN) 23, Chris Holder (AUS) 23, Andreas Jonsson (SWE) 17, Antonio Lindback (SWE) 17, Fredrik Lindgren (SWE) 16, Emil Sayfutdinov (RUS) 15, Kenneth Bjerre (DEN) 12, Hans Andersen (DEN) 11, Peter Ljung (SWE) 10, Bjarne Pedersen (DEN) 9. Chris Harris (GB) 8, Przemyslaw Pawlicki (POL) 7, Jason Bunyan (GB) 1