POOLE Pirates will no longer host Kyle Newman’s testimonial meeting next month.

Having already been rearranged once, Poole-born rider Newman’s meeting was set to take place at Wimborne Road on Wednesday, March 13.

However, it will no longer serve as Poole’s season curtain-raiser, with that date clashing with other commitments for riders.

Originally scheduled for March 20, that date was scrapped to avoid clashing with the official press launch of the SGB Premiership.

But it has transpired March 13 is also problematic, with a number of clubs scheduling practice days on that date, while there are also fixtures in Poland.

Newman said: “It is a big shame that we can't launch the season with my testimonial meeting, but rider availability has effectively squashed those hopes.

“I want to emphasise that this is beyond the control of Poole Speedway and I would like to express my grateful thanks to Dan Ford for all the help he has given me in trying to get the meeting up and running.

“We are continuing to work closely together on finding an alternative date and hopefully we will be able to announce something in the very near future."

Newman, who was part of the club’s team last year but did not make the cut for 2024, first joined Poole in 2011.

He is this year set to ride for Championship rivals Plymouth Gladiators.

Discussing the postponement of the testimonial, Ford said: “We really feel for Kyle over this. We know that he is very keen to put together a strong and competitive line-up for his big night, as you would expect.

“Whilst we thought we had overcome one major obstacle when we brought the date forward originally, events have since conspired against us.

“We are determined to find an alternative date for him that would allow for Kyle to have the best choice of riders as possible and we apologise to anyone who may have made plans for March 13.”

Pirates will host their annual press and practice session on Wednesday, March 27. The season then begins two days later, at home against Oxford Cheetahs on Good Friday as Poole begin the defence of their BSN Series crown.