Graeme Gowland has been out of action from the Dickies British Supersport paddock for nearly two and a half years through injury, but he made a triumphant return at Snetterton and even finished the feature race in sixth.

The fan favourite broke his leg during a testing session in Spain in March 2015 and since then has been in rehab. Now the likeable Northerner has decided that he would like to get back on a bike and Smiths Racing have given him a chance on the Triumph.

As Gowland has been out of action for so long he is just taking it step by step and wants to get back up to speed and regain his confidence on the bike. He took part in the Supersport race at the 300 circuit where he finished inside the top six.

He cannot score points as he is using Peter Hickman’s TT bike and the gearbox does not correspond to the Supersport rules and regulations. But that doesn’t matter to Gowland and he is just using this time to familiarize himself with the track.

But his main aim and goal is to be back racing in 2018. Gowland hopes to be at the Brands Hatch GP circuit in three weeks time, but at the moment he is happy with his progress and is taking things one event at a time.

“Nearly two and a half years ago I did the injury in March 2015. I had the metal out of my leg in February and straight away felt a big difference. So I dropped Smiths an email and they got back to me,” said Gowland, speaking to bikesportnews.com.

“The engine is one of engines that Pete had for the TT and it has a Nova gearbox in, and rules are what they are but that doesn’t make any difference to what we want to
achieve it is just about laps and getting back to riding how we were.

“I am just trying to find the limit again. I remember how it used to feel and I am just chipping away. Straight in the deep end but it is not a bad thing. Just literally to get me back to speed.

“Hopefully we will be at Brands, we have got some help from Tristan Palmer and he is a massive help to me but he will go back to World Supersport at some point. We will have to play it by ear. If I can get back to my best - that’s my aim that’s what I want to do (compete next year.)”