Scott Smart has returned to the Hawk Kawasaki equipe for the forthcoming Bennetts British Superbike Championship completing the 32 rider entry for the country’s premier motor sport series. The Maidstone rider was one of only five to taste the winner’s champagne last term, as he gave the Vivaldi Suzuki team their first ever victory in the top flight, but now he is focussed on repeating the successes he enjoyed while riding for Stuart Hicken’s equipe back in 2004.
Then Smart won three times, against the might of the factory backed teams, to finish fourth in the overall rankings, little wonder that he is delighted to pen a deal to ride again for the Leicestershire based team.
“It’s like being back at home, riding and working with them and I know that it is going to be good,” reflected Smart. “It would be good to match our achievements of a couple of years ago, and that, or better, is what I am aiming for.
“We will have our work cut out because the series is bigger and better than ever now with the level of competition stepping up with more factory bikes in action, but it will be nice to get stuck into beating them.”
Hawk had already entered a bike for the young, upcoming rider Peter Hickman, and team principal Hicken is sure that the Alford rider will also benefit from the arrival of Smart. “The arrival of Scott is a real bonus to the team, working on all fronts with us and helping to develop young Peter’s talents – this season is going to be a whole team effort and I’m really looking forward to it.”
The championship, which begins at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday, 9 April, features top International riders and the best of British. Ryuichi Kiyonari, the first Japanese rider to win the crown, returns to defend the ‘number one’ plates aboard the HRC backed HM Plant Honda Fireblade, with Jonathan Rea as his team-mate. Spanish rider Gregorio Lavilla, the 2005 Champion, continues with Airwaves Ducati, with Leon Haslam, last season’s runner-up as his team-mate.
Tommy Hill and James Haydon head the Virgin Media Yamaha challenge, while Chris Walker returns from the World Championship to ride Rizla Suzuki with the British Supersport Champion Cal Crutchlow joining him in the team. And, Michael Rutter rides for the new MSS Discovery Kawasaki Superbike team, while former champion Shane Byrne lines up for the Stobart Vent-Axia Motorsport team.
The strong entry list also includes a mix of youth and experience with Tom Sykes and Leon Camier graduating from Supersport to ride against top riders like Karl Harris, Dean Thomas, Steve Plater and Sean Emmett.
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