Sam The Man At Poole

NEWS Wednesday 24th August 2022, 11:40pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Monarchs captain Sam Masters put in a remarkable performance to win the Championship Riders Individual at Poole on Wednesday night a feat made all the more remarkable given his current physical state.

Masters raced to 12 points including three heat wins on the way to first pick of gates in the final. The first running saw a big crash with Sam, Ryan Douglas and Danny King all coming down. This led to a long delay as the air fence was repaired and Douglas couldn't take his place in the re-run.

Second time out, Sam made no mistake rocketing from the gate and winning going away Masters speaking to the BSN beaming after

'I didn't need that crash to be honest and tomorrow I'll be thinking how did I do that. 100% it was adrenaline.

'I got a good start and got on the racing line and once you were on that it was difficult for anyone to pass. I have to say thanks to the boys in the pits they got the bike straightened out and I'm stoked.'

In an entertaining meeting Masters did most of his work from the gate leaving the chasing to those in his wake.

These included fellow Monarch Josh Pickering who can feel a little unlucky to miss out on a semi place after finishing on 9 points one away from the semi positions.

Josh was always in the thick of it and heat 16 was the one that cost him. He missed the start, went for the outside of course, but King's back wheel swerved into his path and he had to shut off dramatically. Adam Roynon on the BSN suggested it could have been rerun for first bend bunching but not many refs would do that.

So that meant it was down to Sam and the Monarchs captain duly delivered pipping King and Lewi Kerr to cement his place as top dog in the Championship taking his 2nd title in this competition 11 years after his last.

Incredible!