Stewart in TT alliance with SMT Racing

'Dan did a superb job for us last year and we plan to build upon that experience in 2014 and hopefully cause a few shocks' - Robin Croft

Kyle White

28 Jan 2014

Cumbrian Dan Stewart has teamed up with British championship outfit SMT Racing for a second successive year at the Isle of Man TT.

Stewart, a former TT Privateer's Champion, will ride a Honda CBR1000RR in the Superbike and Senior races and a CBR6000RR in the Supersport class.

He was also contest the Superstock race on a new Honda Fireblade or the Kawasaki he will ride in the National Superstock 1000 Championship this season.

Stewart, from Barrow-in-Furness, has chalked up 18 top ten finishes at the TT and set a new personal best lap of the Mountain Course last year, lapping at 129.077mph in the Superbike race before he was cruelly denied the chance of equalling his best ever TT result of sixth due to a holed radiator.

Team owner Robin Croft said: "We are delighted to be returning to the TT in 2014 with Dan Stewart.

"I'm a massive fan of the TT and it is the highlight of our year. Dan did a superb job for us last year and we plan to build upon that experience in 2014 and hopefully cause a few shocks.

"Dan's not far away from a 130mph lap now and we are sure he will achieve that this year and will be a regular feature at the top of the leaderboards."

Lancashire-based SMT Racing has increased its presence on the roads in recent seasons, with Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle giving Robin Croft's team a coveted TT victory in the Sidecar class last June when the pair won the opening race.

Michael Rutter has also delivered two wins for SMT Racing at the Macau Grand Prix in 2012 and 2013.

The team has also had a strong presence on the short circuits for many years, running regularly inside the top ten of the British Superbike Championship and more recently contesting the National Superstock 1000cc Championship with Adam Jenkinson, narrowly missing out on the 2013 title by three points.

Swedish rider Filip Backlund will spearhead SMT Racing's short circuit challenge for the forthcoming season.

Wilcock Consulting, long time backers of Stewart, will again continue with their support of the 38-year-old.