ELITE League champions Poole Pirates have retained the services of hometown hero and rider of the year Kyle Newman for the 2015 season. 

In today's Elite League draft, Pirates chief Matt Ford took up the option of retaining club asset Newman from list of 10 Tier One riders. 

Newman will be joined at reserve by 24-year-old Paul Starke, who represented Somerset Rebels in the Premier League as well as winning the National League title with Cradley Heathens in 2014. 

Somerset asset Starke achieved an average of 9.75 in the third tier and 4.69 in the second flight last season.