By Road Racing News leading roads team of the 2019 pure road racing season is, drum roll, six times TT victors Smiths Racing.
You can’t but not impressed with Smiths Racing’s application, drive to win, professionalism. The family run team who first ventured into the roads scene in 2014 at the North West 200, has in recent times established itself as arguably International Road Racing’s leading outfit.
Running BMW’s latest generation S1000RR model in Superstock and Superbike trim, alongside a factory supported Triumph, it’s been a quite prodigious year of roads competition for the Smiths squad with world’s fastest road racer Peter Hickman.
Superstock Race 1 victors at the North West 200, TT 2019 saw Smiths/Hickman consolidate their reputations as modern day giants of Mountain Course action.
Victorious in the RST Superbike race, outright event lap record holder Hickman went onto secure a dominant Royal London 360 Superstock class success, plus brought Triumph back to the TT winners circle after a thrilling two lap battle for Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 spoils with Dean Harrison.
Race week concluded with Harrison taking the Senior race crown after late race problems for five times TT winner Hickman, who prior to encountering a water heating problem, held a race leading advantage exceeding 17 seconds.
Following their momentous exploits on the Isle of Man, attentions roads wise for Smiths and Hickman turned to the hugely popular FonaCAB Ulster Grand Prix.
Unofficially under the existing lap record during Superbike qualifying, the Circle K Airport Road Service Station Superbike race would see ‘Hicky’ set a stunning new outright lap record of 136.415 mph!
Going onto secure in style race spoils, his new record lap speed of 136.415 mph, was more than enough to return the world’s fastest road race title to the Ulster GP.
Photo by Tommy Vennard
The remainder of Hickman/Smiths latest UGP tenure can only be described as extraordinary, exemplary, astounding, incredible, magical, unparalleled.
Untouchable within the Superstock, remaining Superbike race stints, the Supersport encounters saw Hickman keep at bay Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston, securing a momentous middleweight class hat trick, after three world class performances aboard the TROOPER Triumph.
Ending the 2019 Ulster GP unbeaten with seven race wins from seven starts, surpassing Phillip McCallen previous event wins record, Hickman and Smiths had proven why they are regarded as the rider/team combination to beat now at the premier International roads meetings.
More than worthy recipients of Road Racing News, Roads Team of The Year accolade, Smiths Racing have enjoyed in 2019 11 race wins, 14 podium finishes in total combined from action at the North West 200, TT, Ulster GP and Macau GP.
Words by Stevie Rial
