SMT Racing end British Championship season with race victory
Monday 21 October 2013
TT
SMT Racing finished the 2013 season exactly as they started as TT winner Tim Reeves swept to a race victory at Brands.
Weather severely affected the opening race of the weekend being. A number of teams crashed out but Tim and brother Tristan kept their heads and with some precision sidecar driving, they came home over six seconds clear of Ben Holland/Lee Watson.
The second race again saw a variety of tyre choices made by the crews and whilst Tim opted for full slicks in the damp weather, Andy Peach/Charlie Richardson chose intermediates and there was little to choose between the two pairings after a safety car period saw the pack bunch up.
With a dry line appearing, straying slightly off it spelt a distinct lack of grip for Tim and Tristan but they were determined not to let Peach and Richardson get the better of them and they edged them out by 0.669s for their 16th win out of 18 races contested. Indeed, their dominance of the series could be seen in the final standings as their tally of 490 points saw them end the season 168 points clear of Peach/Richardson with Holland/Watson a further sixty points back.
Looking back at the team’s highly successful season, SMT Racing’s owner Robin Croft added: "I couldn't have asked for a better end to the season!”
"Tim and Tristan were again exemplary in what were very difficult conditions and swept to another emphatic double...I'd like to thank Tim and Tristan for how they've ridden and conducted themselves all year and also thank Alec, Fred and Steve for all their hard work and for making the season what it was."
The team now look forward to the Macau Grand Prix where TT star Michael Rutter will be aiming to give them their second successive victory. The meeting takes place on November 13-16.
Pictures by Glynne Lewis