British Superbike News

SMT Honda (Michael Rutter) Mallory Park 2009

Another team suffering from the effects of the economic crisis, SMT Honda, have had to pull out of the Brands Hatch round of the championship.

The team only just managed to get the funding together for the Mallory Park round after a last minute deal with a sponsor took place and with Michael Rutter on board to award the team with a fourth and sixth position in the two races of the day.

Team manager Robin Croft said;

“It is so disappointing for the whole team that we currently won’t be racing at Brands Hatch, especially after we showed such potential at Mallory Park with Michael Rutter’s fourth place,” he told the BSB website. “We really need someone to come onboard and back the team if we are going to be able to race this weekend.

We have everything ready to go, the bikes are ready in the truck, the team are ready, but currently we simply just don’t have the funds to go racing. If anyone can help then I urge them to get in contact so we can see the team back in the paddock and Michael challenging this weekend.

I’ve never experienced such highs and lows as the last two weeks. We won’t give up, it means too much.”

Meanwhile Michael Rutter has landed a ride with the fourth team this season as he replaces the injured Simon Andrews on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki.

Andrews underwent surgery to have his left scaphoid screwed back together the day after the Mallory Park round of of the championship.  Unfortunately, after further tests this week, the bone has not fused together as quickly as was expected meaning the rider needs more time to rest the injury.