Pirates: Holder desperate for star Masters to return (From Bournemouth Echo)

Pirates: Holder desperate for star Masters to return

7:00am Friday 20th July 2012 in Pirates News By Ian Wadley

CAPTAIN Chris Holder is desperate for Sam Masters to regain full fitness – because he thinks his compatriot can be a match-winner at reserve.

Holder is adamant that the young Aussie ace has the talent to be a prolific performer at the lower end of Poole Coastal Aluminium’s line-up.

The Elite League leaders and title favourites were last night still anxiously awaiting the latest news on the condition of Masters’ left wrist.

Masters received lengthy on-track treatment before being taken by ambulance to Poole Hospital for further checks after smashing into the air fence in a nasty heat-seven spill against Belle Vue on Wednesday night.

Pirates initially confirmed the 21-year-old had sustained a suspected broken left wrist and whiplash.

Masters told the Daily Echo that he was “very sore” and that he would be forced to miss the first round of the world under-21 championships in Italy this weekend.

He added: “I need to get some more X-rays. I think there is something wrong with my wrist. It doesn’t feel right.”

Holder is hoping his fellow Australian can make a rapid recovery to boost Pirates’ title defence.

Speaking ahead of last night’s scheduled league clash at Birmingham, the Grand Prix star told the Daily Echo: “I messaged him on Wednesday night and he said that nothing was broken so that was a good start.

“Sam has hit a bit of form at the moment. He has got some good engines and he has been going well.

“He is one of our reserves and is our key to getting a lot of points.

“If he is out, hopefully it will not be for too long and he can get back in the saddle and get on with it again.

“He is good enough to be in the main body of the team. He had a bit of a bad run a couple of meetings ago but he has got some new equipment and is going fast again.

“He is really important for us to have at reserve and he can win meetings as a reserve for us. Hopefully, he will be all right.”

Masters, the reigning Premier League riders’ champion, last month produced his best performance of the season with a 10 paid 12-point effort at Wolverhampton. The doubling-up star, who shares a berth with Ludvig Lindgren, also rides for Somerset.

• Pirates will continue their defence of the Knockout Cup against Peterborough or Elite League title rivals Swindon.

Poole Coastal Aluminium were handed the tough semi-final fixture this week.
The other last-four clash will see the winners of Birmingham against Coventry meet Belle Vue.