HODSON JOINS SMT RACING FOR TT 2023
Team owner Robin Croft, who has fielded John McGuinness MBE, Michael Rutter, Dan Stewart and Tim Reeves in previous years at the TT, has purchased a brand new Jackson Racing-prepared Honda Fireblade for Hodson to contest the Superbike, Senior and Superstock races.
Sean Dawson of Vehicle Recovery Services and Kevin and Kate Hickey of KH Commercials are supplying Hodson with an R6 Yamaha and Z650 Kawasaki for the Supersport and Supertwin races respectively with all three bikes running in SMT Racing livery.
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.
HODSON TO COMPETE IN ALL SOLO CLASSES WITH SMT RACING.
“After a few years away from the TT, it was great to be back with John last year,” said Croft. “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.”
Hodson joins SMT Racing 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, but he also impressed in the two Supersport races with 12th and 13th and a 123mph+ lap.
HODSON HAD HIS BEST YEAR YET AT TT 2022.
He was also well to the fore in the big bike races as seen by 13th and 14th in the Superbike and Senior races respectively and went 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 at TT2023.
“I’m delighted to be joining SMT Racing and can’t thank Robin enough,” said the 36-year old. “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 supplying the 600 and Kate and Kevin the Twin, I’m well equipped to build on last year’s results and improve further still and that’s the obvious aim.”
