PROMOTER Matt Ford has challenged Kyle Newman to rocket out of a reserve berth in 2016 – with a little lift from Poole Pirates favourite Darcy Ward.

Poole asset Newman, 23, and Lakeside’s Adam Ellis have been confirmed as the Wimborne Road club’s reserve pairing for next season but both have the opportunity to progress to the top five under new Elite League rules.

Ford revealed Dorset charger Newman, last season's top fast-track rider with an average of 8.41, has purchased a complete bike from stricken star Ward, who remains hospitalised by spinal injuries sustained in Poland in August.

And with the Pirates chief conceding Poole-born Newman’s reserve days are numbered, he has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of a crunch campaign.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “I’m very pleased we have Kyle again for the 2016 campaign but we know nothing lasts forever.

“After this year, I think there is a very good chance that the reserve places will be solely decided on averages so this is a big season for Kyle – he needs to push himself into main body of the team if he can.

“I know that is his ambition for the year. I have caught up with him a few times lately and in himself, you can see he feels the need to take that step.

“He has just purchased a complete bike from Darcy Ward and has invested in a lot of new equipment for next season so I know his goal is to make sure he gets into that top five.

“Being an asset made it easy for us to bring him back. He is an amazing rider who is so professional and incredibly popular with the fans.

"One of the first questions I am asked every winter is whether Kyle will be back and I think that is because he puts his heart and soul into it, you can see how much speedway and particularly this club means to him.

"His popularity spreads to the entire club management as well so it was an easy decision to make.”

Reserve averages are now included in the new overall team-building limit of 40.5 with riders competing in the Premier League given an assessed rating for the top flight.

Newman returns on 4.10 with Ellis, who averaged 4.89 from 26 Elite League meetings for Lakeside last season, coming in on a three-point average.

Ford added: “Adam Ellis and I had held discussions previously because Jon Cook (Lakeside promoter) had given him permission to speak to other clubs.

“He was keen on a move to either us or Swindon and luckily, we had our second pick before the Robins. He is very good round Poole and a quick starter who is very keen to push his career on by gaining some experience on the continent next season.”

Paul Starke, Poole's number six last season, has been named as Leicester's second reserve for 2016.