Smart, Richards drafted in as TAG Kawasaki super-subs at Oulton

And former Hawk Kawasaki team-mate Glen Richards will also make a return to racing as he substitutes for the Aussie Mitchell Carr in the same team. It’s like putting the band back together as ex-Hawk technician Lee Machin is also part of the TAG outfit.

Smart, who looks after the team’s electronics as well as being World Superbike technical director, tested at Mallory Park on the Wednesday before Thruxton and says he is ready to ride for the first time since the end of 2013.

“The test at Mallory went really well. We tweaked and improved a load of settings on the bike which Richard was really happy with and it is a shame that he didn’t get to try it all at Thruxton,” said Smart, speaking to bikesportnews.com.

“Obviously, I haven’t ridden for a while but after a session at Mallory, I was back in the swing fairly quickly and am looking forward to the three races at Oulton, which is a bit being back in the deep end but that is the nature of BSB. A lack of bike fitness due to breaking my neck snowboarding in January will probably prove to be the biggest problem.”

Richards, meanwhile, has ridden this year, standing in for John McGuinness in the Valvoline Honda team for the first two Pirelli National Superstock 1000 rounds of the season, as well as being Alex Lowes’ mentor and adviser.

“I don’t care what happens so long as I beat the old bastard!” joked Richards. “Seriously, I don’t know what to expect as I haven’t ridden the bike but we are treating it like a test weekend and hopefully we can give the team some good feedback which will help them for the rest of the season and into next year.”

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