SMT Honda are delighted to announce that reigning Australian Supersport Champion Jason O’Halloran will be joining them for the final rounds of this season’s British Superbike Championship. With both Adam Jenkinson and Tom Grant sidelined due to injury for the rest of the season, the team has acted quickly to secure the services of O’Halloran, the latest hot prospect to emerge from Australia. Hailing from Wollongong, home of former World Champion Wayne Gardner, O’Halloran arrives in the UK with some impressive credentials. The 20-year old began racing in 2002 and success soon followed, finishing runner-up in the 125cc Australian Championship a year later. He soon progressed into the Australian Supersport Championship, and, after placing 7th and 3rd in 2005 and 2006, he dominated the 2007 series, taking 7 race wins and 3 lap records on board the Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R6. He also deputised for injured countryman Kevin Curtain in the Yamaha World Supersport Team, finishing a highly creditable 12th at the Czech Republic round at Brno. For 2008, O’Halloran has been competing in the Australian Superbike Championship for the Teknic Honda Racing squad, his fifth year as part of an official distributor backed team. In his debut season on Superbike machinery, he has already set a new lap record at Phillip Island and is currently lying in 5th place overall in his country’s premier series, with two rounds still remaining. In addition, he impressed the Japanese heirarchy greatly at the Suzuka 8-Hours, where he finished 6th on the Moriwaki-backed machine alongside current BSB star Cal Crutchlow and Tetsuya Yamaguchi. Upon announcing the signing of O’Halloran, team owner Robin Croft said: “When it became clear that neither Adam or Tom would be fit to participate in the final three rounds we began to look at our options and I’m delighted to be able to secure the services of Jason. His track record speaks for itself and it’s clear he’s an immensely talented rider so we’re eagerly looking forward to his arrival.” “He’s keen to further his career on the International stage and whilst he’s obviously got three new circuits to learn, he’s got plenty of experience on the CBR1000RR Honda Fireblade and has been putting in some great rides in the Australian Superbike Championship this season. It will be a new experience for him but we’re confident that we can give him the package to shine.” O’Halloran will be competing in Round 6 of the Australian Superbike Championship at Symmons Plains, Tasmania this weekend, before heading to the UK in time for the Croft round of the British series, which will take place on September 12-14