ANOTHER TILT AT THE PAIRS

NEWS Thursday 10th July 2014, 6:28pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Not since 1986 have Monarchs won the Premier Pairs, but we head into the annual event, to be staged tomorrow (Friday) at Somerset, optimistically once again wishing Sam Masters and Max Fricke good luck in their bid to emulate Les Collins and Doug Wyer from 28 years ago.

We know that both these young men can ride the Somerset track. Max was outstanding in our famous Sky TV victory in June 2013, and of course Sam is an ex-Somerset rider having ridden for the Rebels in 2010-12, winning the Premier League Riders’ Championship in their colours in 2011.

The Rebels of course are the reigning Premier League and Premier Pairs champions, though last year’s winning pair of Grajczonek and Doyle are no longer riding for them.

Start time for the Pairs is 7pm, earlier than usual, with gates open at 5pm. There will be a big travelling support heading down for this and also the British Grand Prix at Cardiff the next day.

Sam Masters warms up with an outing for Ipswich standing in for Richie Worrall in their home match with Plymouth tonight. Max Fricke was due to ride for Redcar at home to Berwick but because Lakeside’s trip to King’s Lynn has been rained off, Richard Lawson is available and Max won’t be appearing.