Lancashire-based team, SMT Racing will make a full-scale return to this year’s Isle of Man TT with Rob Hodson competing in all classes.
Team owner Robin Croft, who has fielded John McGuinness MBE, Michael Rutter, Dan Stewart and Tim Reeves in previous years, has purchased a brand new Jackson Racing-prepared Honda Fireblade for Hodson to contest the Superbike, Senior and Superstock races.
Hodson joins SMT on the back of three successful seasons with Dafabet Racing, the most recent seeing him have his best TT to date with no less than five top-15 finishes. The highlight was seventh place in the Supertwins race, his best result at the TT, before going on to win the Classic Superbike Manx Grand Prix for Greenall Racing.
Having already lapped in excess of 126mph, Hodson is now looking forward to improving on that with SMT Racing in 2023.
“I’m delighted to be joining SMT Racing and can’t thank Robin enough,” 36-year old Hodson said on the announcement. “He helped me out a little bit back in 2018 and we’ve kept in touch ever since so when he said he was looking to get more involved with racing again, one thing led to another and I’ve now got a brand new Honda Fireblade at my disposal.
“We’ll run the bike in Superstock-spec, which, as we’ve seen both at the TT and on the short circuits, will be more than competitive for the Superbike, Senior and Superstock races whilst the team’s infrastructure is second to none.
With Sean [Dawson of Vehicle Recovery Services] supplying the 600 and Kate and Kevin [Hickey of KH Commercials] the Twin, I’m well equipped to build on last year’s results and improve further still and that’s the obvious aim.”
Croft returned to the TT last year after a five-year absence last year running McGuinness in the two four-lap Supersport races but has stepped up his efforts in 2023 with close neighbour Hodson a grateful recipient.
“After a few years away from the TT, it was great to be back with John last year,” Croft confirmed. “We were only contesting the two Supersport races though so I couldn’t help but feel we were missing out so when I found out Rob was looking for a ride, it seemed right to lend him my support and return for a full-scale assault.
“He obviously lives local to me and we’ve done a little bit together in the past but his results are improving all the time and I’m confident with our team and infrastructure, we can help take him to the next level.”Lancashire-based team, SMT Racing will make a full-scale return to this year’s Isle of Man TT with Rob Hodson competing in all classes.
