KYLE Newman insists there is nothing starry-eyed about his purchase of Darcy Ward’s finely-tuned machine as he bids to blaze a trail through the Poole Pirates pecking order.

The Poole-raised charger was yesterday named alongside Adam Ellis in the club’s reserve pairing for 2016, although both will have the opportunity to establish themselves in the top five under new Elite League rules.

Newman, last season’s top fast-track rider with an average of 8.41 from 31 meetings, admitted his Wimborne Road future could have been in doubt had British speedway chiefs not created the opportunity to progress.

And with the door now open and stricken star Ward’s carefully-crafted motor under his saddle, the 23-year-old has designs on hitting new heights.

Newman told the Daily Echo: “The main thing I wanted was the engine. That’s where the power is and I wanted to try something different.

“Some engines suit riders, others don’t but I knew Darcy always had fantastic equipment so I saw it as a great opportunity to take another step up.

“I need to take a step forward with my career now. The fast-track system has been nice and it has been good scoring a lot of points but at the same time, if I really want to push on I have to invest. That is just part and parcel of the sport.

“When the opportunity comes to get a little piece of what Darcy put together then you have to take it and if I can ride anything like him I will be over the moon.

“But at the same time, I am trying to focus on my own game. I don’t tend to think about or take inspiration from what other people are doing or have done, I have a driving commitment of my own.

“More than anything it is about having confidence in your machinery and his was always on point.”

On the potential of riding elsewhere, Newman added: “If there had been no opportunity to break into the top five then I would not have gone for the fast-track system.

“As much as I want to ride for Poole and love the club to bits, I knew I had to take that step to benefit my career. In turn, that can only help the Pirates.

“If anything, the new rules give us the best of both worlds. I have to ride to that standard to reach the top five and maintain that consistently to stay there. There’s no real margin for error.

“If there was no position for me at Poole and an offer came from elsewhere I would have to have taken it. Matt may well have offered me a place in the team, we were going to discuss that after the AGM but thankfully, we do not have to cross that bridge.”