Smart replaces injured McGuiness

Injured John McGuinness will be replaced by Scott Smart for this weekend’s crucial final test at Valencia before the start of the World Supersport season.

McGuinness injured himself while filming a video for Honda at Croft last week and needs rest to allow damaged shoulder ligaments to heal.

Smart will race for Honda in the British national supersport class and was promised he would be the first rider called by Honda Britain if it needed a replacement rider.

Team boss Roger Harvey said: ” John needs rest, we need to get more time with the bikes so bringing Scott in seemed the natural thing to do.

” We need John to get better in time for the first race and Scott was obviously interested in getting some testing done in Spain before the start of his season, as he has not ridden a bike for some time. ”

Other British riders at the WSB and World Supersport test include Neil Hodgson, James Toseland, Mark Heckles, Jim Moodie, Iain MacPherson, James Ellison, James Whitham and Rob Frost.

We’ll be hosting a live webchat with Neil Hodgson at 5pm on Friday.