Smiths Racing have expanded their efforts in the MCE British Superbike Championship after naming a two rider line-up for 2016.
Jakub Smrz and Howie Mainwaring-Smart have joined the family-run Gloucester based team, that made it’s debut in the top class this season with 2014 British Supersport champion Billy McConnell.
The Smiths Racing outfit have been very successful since their debut in 2010, with two British Supersport titles to their name.
Smrz joins the team following a difficult 2015 that saw the Czech being replaced at the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati team by John Hopkins after breaking his wrist in an crash at Snetterton.
He did finish the year with the title-winning Milwaukee Yamaha team but is now looking ahead to his first season on-board a BMW machine.
Smrz said: “I’m very excited about this new adventure and I am really happy to join Smiths Racing for 2016. The team did very well in their first season in Superbike and showed that they have big potential. They have experienced staff and a lot of passion for racing so I’m sure that we will be competitive.
“I can’t wait to start testing and begin working with the Smiths team to get my first impression of the BMW. My 2015 season wasn’t my best for many reasons so I’m even more motivated for 2016 and I am working harder than ever before. “
Mainwaring-Smart joins after a strong 2015 campaign with the Quattro Plant Kawasaki team, finishing in the top 10 on a number of occasions.
Speaking about the switch, Mainwaring-Smart said: “I am really looking forward to the 2016 season and I can’t wait to start working with everybody at Smiths Racing and alongside a very experienced teammate in Kuba. I feel with my teammate’s experiences and my determination it will work really well and it will show with the results.
“To be honest I can’t tell you how excited I am as words cant’ express my feelings. It’s time to get my head down now and up the training ready for the first test on the bike, which can’t come soon enough.”
Smiths Racing team manager, Rebecca Smith, believes that the time has come for the team to push on in BSB following their success in the Supersport class.
She said: “Running a two rider superbike team was always something that we talked about and aspired to achieve and so it feels great to finally put this into place for 2016. We’ve had some great success and also a lot of fun in the supersport class but the time is right for us to move the team on and fully commit to the premier class.
“We are welcoming the opportunity to work with both Kuba and Howie and believe that they will really complement one another. We have an extensive testing programme planned and are very much looking forward to getting this underway and beginning our 2016 campaign.”