Smiths Racing announces motorsport exit, Hickman sources 2021 BSB deal
Smiths Racing has announced it is to end its motorsport involvement following this weekend’s 2020 British Superbike Championship finale after more than a decade of road and short course success.
The family-run business made its racing debut in 2010 in the British Supersport Championship under the eponymous guidance of Rebecca Smith and her father Alan, going on to enjoy significant success in both BSB and on the international road racing scene.
Stepping up to Superbikes in 2015 as a BMW customer team, the signing of Hickman in 2017 brought it both race-winning success and a run to the Title Showdown, where it ended the year fourth overall. Hickman would go on to reach the six-way shootout in 2018 and 2019 too.
However, it was on the roads where Smiths Racing was catapulted to high-profile status with wins on the Isle of Man TT, Manx GP, Ulster GP, North West 200 and Macau GP. It currently holds the Mountain Course lap record on the Isle of Man TT with Hickman hitting 135.452mph in 2018.
“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,” said team owner Rebecca Smith.
“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.”
Peter Hickman will be on the 2021 BSB grid
Despite Smiths Racing’s withdrawal, Hickman has already announced it will be on the 2021 BSB grid, as well as on the roads subject to them going ahead amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, it isn’t known which team will compete for.
“2020 definitely hasn’t gone the way we had hoped! It has been a really tough year for us, but we’ve had three incredible seasons recently where we’ve been very lucky so I guess we were due some bad luck, so you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth and 2020 was probably the best time to have it!
“It’s a shame we haven’t been able to showcase our full potential this year but we’re all heading to Brands ready to end the season on a bit of a high. Having a contract in place for next season already is brilliant and means I can head into the off-season focusing solely on next year!”
