Smiths Racing To Contest British Superbikes In 2015
Following on from winning the 2014 Motorpoint British Supersport Championship for a second time, the Gloucester-based Smiths Racing Team will not only be looking at defending their title, but will be making the step up to the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship also.
The move is part of the long-term plan by the double British Supersport champions to race in the premier class and with experience gained during their four years in the sport, both team owner Alan Smith and team manager Rebecca Smith feel the time is now right to progress as a one rider team to MCE BSB whilst maintaining their title-winning credentials in British Supersport.
Australian ace Billy McConnell, who secured the team’s second British Supersport Championship at Brands Hatch last month, will progress to MCE BSB aboard the latest version 2015 BMW S 1000 RR whilst Graeme Gowland and Jake Dixon will contest the British Supersport Championship aboard the factory-backed Triumph Daytona 675R machines.
McConnell, 28, originally from Adelaide but now based in the UK, last contested the British Superbike Championship back in 2008 where he finished 12th in the title race and since then has contested the British Supersport Championship finishing runner-up once and third on three other occasions before this year’s title success. He also won the Virgin Mobile Cup in 2005.
Gowland, meanwhile, remains for a second season with the Smiths team after leading the 2014 Motorpoint British Supersport Championship in mid-season only to end up third in the standings. The 28-year-old rider from Allandale near Hexham in Northumberland is a former Spanish Supersport champion as well as finishing runner-up in the 2011 BSB-EVO Championship.
Joining Gowland in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship for Smiths Racing is 18-year-old Jake Dixon from Dover in Kent. The highly-rated teenager started club racing back in 2010 before finishing fourth in the 2012 Metzeler Superstock 600 Championship. He’s spent the past two seasons in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship whereby he finished eighth in this year’s series.
As well as fielding the two teams in the British Championship paddock, Smiths Racing are looking to include a programme to contest two major International Road Races including the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT Races. Last year on their TT debut, Gary Johnson won the opening Supersport TT to give Smiths their first TT victory.
Rebecca Smith (Team Manager): “As a team we are really excited about the new challenge that lies ahead of us. Following our second British Supersport title in three years, we feel that the time is right to step up to the MCE British Superbike Championship. The BMW was an obvious choice for us and we can’t wait to start the testing programme. The class is looking to be as strong as ever next year so our expectations of both Billy and the new BMW are high. To be continuing for another year with Triumph is a great testament to everybody involved and we will continue the development of the Daytona 675R to ensure that we remain competitive in the British Supersport Championship in 2015. We are confident that the pairing of Graeme and Jake will make for more thrilling battles and are looking forward to getting to work.”
Lee Nicholls (Marketing Manager, BMW Motorrad UK): “It is great to be able to support Smiths Racing for their 2015 British Superbike and International Road Racing campaigns. Smith Racing will be supported via the BMW Motorrad Customer Racing Programme and we are really pleased the team approached BMW Motorrad for this opportunity.”
Rick Cawley (Triumph Motorcycles General Manager, UK and Ireland): “We’re delighted to be working with Smiths for the 2015 season, which will be our fifth year with the team. We have a great relationship with the guys and are looking forward to working closely with this new partnership of Graeme and Jake. Last season’s win was testament to the racing pedigree of our Daytona 675R machine, which has been supported by our engineering team based at Hinckley.”
Billy McConnell: “I’m really excited about the new challenge as it’s been a while since I was in BSB but it was important not to go back unless it was with a good team. The Smiths team I won the British Supersport Championship with is making the step up with me so the time is right and I’m really looking forward to racing the BMW. I’m a little nervous too so I will be happy to get our test programme underway.”
Graeme Gowland: “We had a great year and to come so close to winning the title this season was bitterly disappointing so the sole focus for 2015 is to win the British Supersport Championship and retain the title for Smiths and Triumph. It’s as simple as that! It’s a really great family atmosphere and both sides of the garage help each other so hopefully we can hit the ground running and have a strong season in 2015.”
Jake Dixon: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me and it’s one I intend grasping so I can’t wait to get started. I go racing to win so the championship is the goal and with a team that has won two titles in three years, I have every opportunity. The Triumph is a proven winner and I’ve gained some good experience over the past couple of seasons, as well as upping my training, so I want to be able to challenge from the very first round.”
The opening round of the MCE Insurance and Motorpoint British Supersport Championship takes place at Donington Park on 4/6th April 2015 and for further details, please visit www.smithsracing.co.uk and www.smithsracing.co.uk
Pictures attached courtesy of Jon Jessop: Billy McConnell will front the Smiths Racing Team in MCE BSB 2015 on the BMW. Team Manager Rebecca Smith hopes to oversee the Smiths Racing Team’s successful defence of their British Supersport title for Triumph.
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:
BRITISH CHAMPION MCCONNELL STEPS UP AS SMITHS MAKE MCE BSB DEBUT IN 2015
Reigning British Supersport Champion Billy McConnell will return to the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in 2015, progressing to the premier class with the title-winning Smiths Racing team to compete on board the BMW S 1000RR.
McConnell last competed in the Superbike class in 2008, before seven successful campaigns in the Supersport Championship, which the Australian won in 2014 with the Gloucester-based Smiths team. The 2015 season will mark Smiths Racing’s debut season in MCE BSB after taking two title victories in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship.
Smiths Racing will continue to fight for the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship title in 2015 with factory-backed Triumph Daytona 675Rs. They will bid to retain the crown they won in 2014 with Graeme Gowland and Jake Dixon.
McConnell said: “I am really looking forward to stepping into Superbike again in 2015. It is really exciting to be doing it with the Smiths team as they are a family to me now as this will be my fourth season with them. I suppose I am a bit nervous stepping back into Superbikes as it is the biggest class and there are a lot of great riders lined up for next year, but that is where everyone wants to be.
“Going into the Superbike class as a British Champion is something I am really proud of. The BMW has been proven to be a competitive package this year in the Championship. It is something we are looking forward to and we want to keep pushing forward to get top tens and definitely try to make the Showdown, which is what everyone wants! I want to do myself and the team proud in 2015.”
Team Manager Rebecca Smith said: “As a team we are really excited about the new challenge that lies ahead of us. Following our second British Supersport title in three years, we feel that the time is right to step up to the MCE British Superbike Championship. The BMW was an obvious choice for us and we can’t wait to start the testing programme. The class is looking to be as strong as ever next year so our expectations of both Billy and the new BMW are high.”
Marketing Manager, BMW Motorrad UK, Lee Nicholls commented: “It is great to be able to support Smiths Racing for their 2015 Superbike campaign. Smith Racing will be supported via the BMW Motorrad Customer Racing Programme and we are really pleased the team approached BMW Motorrad for this opportunity.”
For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com