SOMERSET'S new signing for the 2010 season 18-year-old Sam Masters followed up his victory last month in the New South Wales Under-21 speedway championship with a second place finish in this weekend's full New South Wales State Championship.

SOMERSET'S new signing for the 2010 season 18-year-old Sam Masters followed up his victory last month in the New South Wales Under-21 speedway championship with a second place finish in this weekend's full New South Wales State Championship, finishing ahead of riders of the calibre of 2010 Grand Prix rider Chris Holder, ex-Rebel Jason Doyle and a host of other more experienced Australian riders, many of whom have already ridden for clubs here in the UK.

Although Masters had to give second best to World Under-21 Champion, Darcy Ward, in the final, the youngster showed his undoubted potential when, after initially finding himself in third place behind Chris Holder, Masters moved into second place after making a cut back pass on the Elite League star, and then held off Holder's challenges to go on and claim the second step on the victory podium.

"After passing Chris, I knew if I could ride a smooth race on the race line I knew it would be hard for Chris to come around," said Masters after the final, "but Darcy (Ward) out in front was doing the same thing, so race was pretty much over from then, but to say that I'm really pleased with second place given the strength of the field is an understatement!