KYLE Newman's sluggish start prompted his exit from the British semi-final at King’s Lynn last night.

The recent Team GB call up totalled four points from five rides under the watchful eye of national boss Alun Rossiter on an eventful night which saw the action delayed by wet weather.

Newman was involved in a close start to heat three but Kyle Howarth managed to nudge in front of Tai Woffinden, a position he retained to the end as the Poole charger brought up the rear.

A poor gate proved costly for Newman in heat eight as Craig Cook passed Charles Wright to take second behind Danny King.

The Pirates reserve got caught up in a heat 10 spill when James Wright lost control at the end of lap two and the following Newman had nowhere to go. Wright was excluded.

Stefan Nielsen’s fall in the re-run led to a third attempt with Leigh Lanham taking the chequered flag as Newman registered his first point of the night, despite finishing last of the three.

Newman upped the ante in heat 13 and held on to second from the gate behind Scott Nicholls but Simon Lambert pushed him down to third in heat 19, leaving him five points behind a top seven headed by King, Howarth, Lanham, Nicholls and Cook.

QUALIFIERS: Danny King (3, 3, f, 3, 2) 11, Scott Nicholls (2, 3, 3, 3, 0) 11, Leigh Lanham (r, 3, 3, 2, 3) 11, Craig Cook (3, 2, 3, 1, 2) 11, Kyle Howarth (3, 2, 2, 3, 1) 11, Tai Woffinden (2, 3, 2, 3, fx) 10, Carl Wilkinson (1, 0, 3, 2, 3) 9.