Scott Swann hails breakthrough year in National Superstock 1000 class as Ulster rider eyes BSB switch for 2025
Scott Swann is aiming to round off a breakthrough year in the National Superstock 1000 Championship on a high at this weekend’s final round at Brands Hatch in Kent.
The Magheramorne rider has made a massive step forward in 2024 after finishing 17th in the standings last year, with Swann claiming four victories and holding third position with two races remaining, albeit only a single point ahead of experienced Padgett’s Honda contender Luke Mossey.
Swann hinted at what was to come this season when the 21-year-old sealed an impressive fifth place at the final round of the year at Brands last October, but ultimately his switch from a Yamaha R1 to a Honda Fireblade – even though it’s the older 2020 model – coupled with more hard work than ever on Swann’s part has paid dividends.
The Ulsterman earned his maiden win in the series at Knockhill in Scotland in June, where he was denied a double when he slipped off in a wet second race.
Swann also had a double in his sights at Thruxton in August but a mistake while leading Mossey on the final lap of the second race thwarted his prospects.
Nonetheless, it has been a year to remember for Swann, who is now hoping to make the step up to the British Superbike Championship in 2025.
His performances in his second season in the Superstock 1000 class represent a significant improvement, but Swann always felt it was only a matter of time before he was fighting at the front.
“I feel like it’s been coming for a long time because we’ve always been putting in so much effort and I’ve always had the speed, and done the lap times and got results in every other class,” he told the News Letter.
“The Supersport thing didn’t really work out for me and I moved up to ’Stock 1000 last year on the Yamaha R1, and it maybe wasn’t quite the perfect bike for the championship, but it was a good starting point.
“Even last year towards the end of the season I had a fifth place and a front row start, so I did have the speed but maybe not the perfect bike.
“This year Hunts Motorcycles came on board to supply this Honda and I’ve put in so much more effort than I ever have in my life, between the team, the bike, training – everything.
“It all just went up a notch and it has paid off this year, which has been good,” added the Co Antrim lad.
“It’s a good overall bike but then you have the likes of Davey (Todd) who’s on the BMW, which I think is an unbelievable bike – the electronics are next level and it has good speed and seems to turn well. It maybe struggles in Superbike trim but as a stock bike I think it’s really good.
“But I’ve just really gelled with the Honda and it does everything I want it to do, and it has suited me really well.
“I think having rode the R1 and then going to a bike that is really capable and bringing that level of riding is probably what has brought me forward a good bit, because I’ve got into that groove of riding as hard as I can.”
Swann achieved one of his dreams by winning a big British championship race at Knockhill and recalls being in tears on the slowdown lap as he was overwhelmed by a flurry of emotions.
“Starting that race I had this weird feeling when I was standing in the lorry that I’d never had before, and I just said to myself that I’ve the speed to win this race, and I want to win it,” Swann said.
“On the line, I told myself that if I got the holeshot and got into my groove and hit all my marks, and don’t think about what’s going on behind me, then I could win it.
“The whole race I was ‘+0’ to Davey (Todd) but I didn’t think about anything other than hitting my marks.
“I was so much in the zone that when I came out of the last corner I realised the girl was waving the chequered flag. I just went mental from the finish line to the first corner, and then I think for the second half of the lap I didn’t know what to do because I’d worked my whole life to win a big race like this; I was going down the back straight crying and doing a wheelie.
“It was a dream come true in a way because of how much work has gone into it, and also to get it for the team as well because it’s just me, my dad, and my two friends – I can’t even explain how happy we were.”
Swann, whose father Michael is a multiple Irish champion, has also won at Silverstone and Oulton Park this year.
His prospects of fighting for the title were dented by those crashes at Knockhill and Thruxton, but Swann remains focused on wrapping up third overall this weekend as Todd and Joe Talbot battle it out to be crowned champion.
“Luke Mossey is only a point behind me and personally I’m thinking more about getting third in the championship than worrying about Davey Todd fighting for the win, because to win (the title) is sort of out of the question,” he said.
“It could end up being a bit of a battle between me and Mossey, and Todd and (Joe) Talbot for the championship.”
As for next year, Swann is already weighing up some options as he looks to make the move into the British Superbike class.
“I’m looking at a few options for British Superbikes next year,” he said.
“If can move out of Superstock into Superbikes as soon as possible and put in a good first year, I think it would set me up nicely.”