BSB: Smiths Racing to contest their final race meeting at Brands Hatch

After 11 successful seasons in the Bennetts British Superbike and road racing paddocks Smiths Racing will race for the final time this weekend at Brands Hatch.

The Gloucester-based team, set up and owned by Alan Smith and his daughter Rebecca, was created in 2010 and has been heavily involved in British motorcycle racing ever since.

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“We have enjoyed a lot of success but now as a family and a business, we wish to concentrate our efforts in other directions,” Rebecca Smith explained in a team statement.

“We have had a wonderful experience and gained lots of fantastic memories in the British Superbike and Supersport Championships and at the TT, NW200, Ulster GP and Macau GP over the past decade.

“I would like to thank all of our riders, team members, sponsors, fans and organisers who have been instrumental in our successes over the years. Whilst it is the end of an era for Smiths Racing as a family owned and operated team, some elements will continue in a new guise and we wish everyone involved good luck for the future.”

The team won the British Supersport title with Glen Richards (2012) and Billy McConnell (2014) before moving into BSB. McConnell would secure their first podium that year.

Peter Hickman won their first BSB race at Thruxton in 2017 and qualified for the Showdown for three consecutive seasons. Hickman clinched a best result of fourth overall for the team in 2017. Between 2017 and 2019 Smiths were the leading BMW team and the only one to make the Showdown each year.

On the roads Smiths Racing became the team to beat following their debut at the 2014 NW200. Their first TT win came that same year with Gary Johnson winning the Supersport TT.

Hickman would take the team to new levels on the roads. He won five TTs with the team and set a new outright lap record of 135.452mph in 2018.

Hickman also won a record-breaking seven races in a weekend 2019 Ulster Grand Prix and rewrote the history books with a 136.415mph lap. In total Smiths Racing have secured 21 road racing victories and several podiums since they debuted at the 2014 North West 200.