KYLE Newman has called on speedway chiefs to give any reform of the Elite League’s reserve rules “serious thought” to avoid a repeat of this year’s problems.

The Dorset-based charger is in his third year as Poole Pirates’ tier one fast-track draft rider but has been among those to suffer from new rules which sees reserves pushed into heat-leader roles based on their averages.

Having returned from a groin injury, Newman was immediately thrust in at number three against title rivals Belle Vue and struggled to compete when pitched against their top stars.

Much has been made of the oversight but British Speedway Promoters’ Association (BSPA) chairman Keith Chapman recently insisted a mid-season change was not on the cards.

Pirates promoter Matt Ford has since led calls for BSPA members to at least discuss tweaking the rule now and while Newman stopped short of backing his bid, he argued the issue had been a cause for concern among riders.

“It is definitely difficult,” admitted Newman. “It was more tricky for me because I was off for a few weeks through injury which meant my average didn’t change.

“When I came back, it was straight into a heat leader’s role and that wasn’t easy. But that’s the rules for you, there is no point moaning about it once you’re out there, you just have to deal with it as best you can.

“Personally, I think they should have returned to the original heat format we had before the draft system came in once they knew they were going to change the rules over the winter.

“Back then, those who were promoted to heat leader merited their position and you could be better prepared for it that way.

“Now, you get a couple of protected places where riders don’t come up against the top lads.

“With the old format, you would only have one protected place where the top reserve would occasionally be up against heat leaders as well.

“At the moment, we don’t go up against heat leaders at all one minute but then we switch to a completely different format where we are only racing against heat leaders. That is where the problem lies.

“The natural thing is for riders to go up to second string and have a challenge there. I do feel they have got it wrong in that sense but it is one of those things.

“The rules are set now, we have to deal with it and make the best out of a bad situation for now.”

On the prospect of a mid-season alteration, Newman added: “I do think it is hard to change it. While I am keen to see all possibilities looked into, I am going to keep out of that one. That is for the people in charge to decide.

“But regardless of what happens now, they definitely need to look at it for next year.

“I think the best option is returning to the old race format but whatever the solution is, they do need to sit down and give it some serious thought.”