Double Title Bid For Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Team After a solid 2011 season which saw two of their riders inside the top ten of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship, the Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Team has signalled their intentions of challenging for two 2012 titles with a strong four rider team. Experienced Australians Glen Richards and Billy McConnell will join young British hot-shot Luke Mossey aboard factory-supported Triumph 675s in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship whereas Johnny Blackshaw will be gunning for glory aboard a similar machine in the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship. Originally from Adelaide, the experienced Richards won the inaugural BSB-EVO title last year and is a former British Supersport Champion whereby he lifted the title in 2008 aboard a Triumph 675 Daytona. Hinckley based 25-year-old Billy McConnell will join his compatriot fresh from finishing third aboard a Triumph 675 in last year’s series which saw him take two wins. Skippy won the Virgin Mobile Cup back in 2005 and also finished runner-up in the 2009 British Supersport Championship. After a superb season last year for the Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Team, which saw him score three podium finishes, Royston rider Luke Mossey will continue for a second term and the former Grand Prix rider and Metzeler National Superstock 600 runner-up will be hoping he can secure his first BSS victory. Challenging for honours in the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship will be Warrington’s Johnny Blackshaw who has shown his prowess in recent seasons with two podium finishes and he’s hoping to improve on his seventh place in last year’s series. Team Owner Alan Smith said: “We showed last year what we were capable of with five podium finishes in the ultra-competitive British Supersport Championship and had it not been for serious injuries to all three riders at some point, we could have finished a lot higher up the standings. This year we are serious about winning the title for both ourselves and Triumph and in signing Glen, Billy and Luke, I believe we have the strongest line up out there. Johnny has the capability to challenge for the Superstock 600 crown too and with the Triumph 675 Daytona at our disposal, we are very confident going into the 2012 season.” The season starts at Brands Hatch over Easter and continues over twelve rounds, including a visit to the Assen circuit in the Netherlands for the first time.