Smiths Racing brings chequered flag down on 11 successful years

Peter Hickman will compete in the last three BSB races of the season on the Global Robots BMW S1000RR before the Gloucester-based team ends their impressive tenure in the sport.

The English rider is set to unveil a new team structure for 2021 with a new backer on board as he returns to BSB and the major road races.

Rebecca Smith, team owner, said: “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 or so.

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

Hickman has been the driving force behind the team’s eye-catching success at the international road races, winning five races at the Isle of Man TT and setting the outright lap record at 135.452mph.

He also won a record-breaking seven races at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix, establishing the Dundrod course as the fastest road race in the world once more with a new lap record of 136.415mph. Other major wins included a Superstock victory at the North West 200 and success at the Macau Grand Prix.

In 2014, Smiths Racing made its roads debut at the North West 200 and soon afterwards Gary Johnson clinched the team’s first international victory in the Supersport class at the TT on the Triumph 675.

Under the guidance of father and daughter Alan and Rebecca Smith, the team has toasted 21 major road racing victories and multiple podiums.

In the British championship, Dan Cooper earned a podium in the Supersport race in 2010 as Smiths Racing arrived in the paddock for the first time.

With official backing from Triumph, the team claimed the British Supersport title in 2012 with Glen Richards while fellow Australian Billy McConnell added another Supersport crown in 2014.

Smiths Racing made the step up to British Superbikes in 2015, with McConnell securing a maiden rostrum result at Cadwell Park.

Seven more podiums followed, while Hickman secured a coveted win at Thruxton in 2017 and finished in the Showdown for three successive years, establishing Smiths Racing as the leading BMW team in the championship.

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