HOMETOWN hero Kyle Newman climbed off his sick bed to realise a lifelong ambition with Pirates and then told Matt Ford he was ready for more next year.

Poole-born Newman played a starring role as Pirates secured the Elite League title with a convincing grand final victory over Birmingham at Perry Barr last night.

The 21-year-old Dorset lad, who has supported Poole since first attending a meeting as a 17-week-old baby, scored a fine six paid seven as Pirates claimed a 47-43 win to complete their 104-79 aggregate success.

Newman, standing in as a guest for reserve Micky Dyer, also contributed three paid four in Pirates’ first leg hammering of the Brummies.

Promoter Matt Ford had already expressed his desire to find a 2014 team place for the popular Poole asset and Newman is hoping he has done his selection chances no harm.

Discussing whether Ford could find space for him next term, Newman told the Daily Echo: “I hope I have put in a good effort. I will be calling at Matt’s door if he hasn’t!

“But I am just enjoying the victory and then I just need to get the rest of my season done.”

Former Birmingham rider Newman, who put Pirates on course for the silverware with a win in heat two of the second leg, revealed he had shrugged off illness to take his place at the start line.

He added: “We did a fantastic job in the home leg to build a lead of 21 points.

“The first leg settled my nerves and I came into the second leg feeling good.

“Everything worked perfectly and it has been great fun to be a part of the team.

“It was a shame I had the flu but I came through that and we got a great result.

“It helped that I had ridden at Perry Barr in the past but it was just an awesome feeling.

“It is one of those things I have always wanted to do and it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

In a turbulent season of highs and lows, Newman was one of no fewer than 17 guests used by Pirates during the Elite League campaign, with Maciej Janowski and Rohan Tungate the only men to have been in the club’s declared team all season. In total, Pirates tracked 31 different riders.

Pirates’ Elite League appearance-makers

Team members:

Maciej Janowski – 29

Rohan Tungate – 25

Darcy Ward – 21

Chris Holder – 17

Micky Dyer – 16

Josh Grajczonek – 15

Tomas H Jonasson – 14

Dawid Stachyra – 13

Greg Hancock – 11

Kyle Howarth – 10

Przemyslaw Pawlicki – 5

Robert Miskowiak – 2

Kozza Smith – 1

Temporary signing:

Dennis Andersson – 5

Guests:

Kyle Newman – 3

Richie Worrall – 3

Troy Batchelor – 2

Niels-Kristian Iversen – 1

Thomas Jorgensen – 1

Hans Andersen – 1

Chris Harris – 1

Alex Davies – 1

Tai Woffinden – 1

Leigh Lanham – 1

Mikkel B Jensen – 1

Ben Barker – 1

Anders Mellgren – 1

Patrick Hougaard – 1

Martin Smolinski – 1

Timo Lahti – 1

Adam Skornicki – 1