THE Oaktree Arena, home of the Somerset Rebels, will stage the Premier League Pairs Championship, one of the six major Speedway GB Events to be staged in 2014.

The Championship, which takes place on Friday July 11, will be the eighth successive season that Somerset have played host to the competition.

The club finally broke their 'hoodoo' last season by winning the championship for the first time.

Promoter Debbie Hancock said: "It is always a great honour to be asked to stage the Pairs, it will be the eighth time that the Oaktree Arena will have held the event and it probably says something about the fairness of the track and the high standard of riders taking part that last season was the first time a Somerset duo actually won the title.

"With the meeting being held the night before the Cardiff GP, it allows fans the opportunity to enjoy a great weekend of speedway action, in addition to which it is a good boost to the local economy with many visiting fans from across the country as well as those from overseas staying in local accommodation and spending their free time in and around the locality."

Speedway GB Events co-ordinator, Dave Hoggart, said of the announcement to stage the competition at the Oaktree Arena: “The Oaktree Arena has firmly established itself as the home of the Premier League Pairs Championship with its now tradition staging the night prior to the GP at Cardiff.”

“The Somerset promotion always put on an excellent meeting for both riders and fans a-like, and provides a great curtain-raiser for what promises to be a great weekend of top quality speedway action.”

SPEEDWAYGB MAJOR EVENTS 2014: ELITE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Coventry, Sunday March 23BRITISH UNDER-21 FINAL: Cradley, Tuesday April 15BRITISH FINAL: Wolverhampton, Monday June 16PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS: Somerset, Friday July 11PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS: Peterborough, Sunday August 3 (provisional date)PREMIER RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP: Sheffield, Sunday September 21