Wildcats’ ‘trump card’ aims to get even better

8:24am Wednesday 25th June 2008

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RESERVE revelation Kyle Newman has thanked his backers for helping put his early season nightmares behind him.

The Weymouth Doonan Wildcat bagged 12 points from five races in last Saturday's 47-45 first-leg triumph over the Plymouth Devils in the Knockout Cup at the Wessex Stadium and is being tipped for a bright future.

Newman said: "It was brilliant. To be honest I adapted to the rain really well and I found the best way to ride in the conditions was to attack it.

"It was a shame I did not get the maximum in the end but to win four out of my five races was very pleasing and the challenge now is to keep that sort of form going.

"All the boys went well. Lee Herne had a good first meeting and got a couple of victories and although our lead is only two points going into the second leg we are all still confident we can go to their place and progress through to the next round."

During pre-season Wildcats officials described Newman as the team's trump card, and the Broadstone youngster is glad he is beginning to live up to that billing.

He added: "I would not say that tag has put pressure on me, it's just everyone seems to really enjoy it when I do well.

"Somebody also described me the other day as one of the most inexperienced riders in the league and it is because of things like that why I am so happy to get good scores.

"If I can get four or more points every meeting I would be delighted."

The grade one rider experienced a tough time at the beginning of the campaign and that was why the club's fans were so ecstatic for him at the weekend.

Newman said: "I had a rough start to the season due to a combination of injury and several blown engines.

"I broke my collarbone and then had a few mechanical problems but I was given tremendous support through it all by my sponsor and everyone at the club and now I am just looking forward to continuing to improve over the rest of the season."