Smart back to Hawk?

Scott Smart could be on his way back to Hawk Kawasaki, if the team can secure the backing to run a second rider alongside Peter Hickman.

Smart, speaking from the WSB paddock in Doha where he’s working as a TV commentator for series organisers FG Sport, said: “I’ve heard all the rumours that I’m going to riding for the team but it’s not quite the full story.

“I’ve had a chat with Stuart but that’s it. He’s still chasing budget to be able to field a second rider. I’m certainly not ruling it out as an option though.”

Smart won’t discuss what his other options might be.

Hicken refused to confirm or deny the possibility of taking Smart back into the team he spent two seasons with in 2003 / 2004.

Hicken’s only comment when the Smart option was put to him was: “I’m talking to a couple of potential jockeys at the moment.”

Smart had his best season in BSB in 2004, when he finished fourth in the series, winning three races on the Hawk Kawasaki.

His stunning performances with the under-funded team on a brand new bike earned him a 2005 ride with Rizla Suzuki but after struggling to get to grips with the GSX-R1000 (fighting the same front end problems that others in the team faced) he was sacked and was snapped up by the Vivaldi Kawasaki team.

Last year he rode Vivaldi Suzuki but injuries and a relatively new and under-resourced  team (that was stretched to breaking point with three superbike riders and one in supersport) meant he again failed to live up to his full potential.

Unable to secure a top team ride for 2007, Smart tried to establish his own team (as he had done in British Supersport and finished runner-up in the 2002 series).

He found money for bikes, premises and a truck but couldn’t secure the budget for the day to day running of the team.

Following his impressive rookie BSB season in 2006 19-year-old Peter Hickman signed with Hawk before Christmas.

He was the third rider on the 2006 team, alongside Dean Thomas and Craig Coxhell, but while the latter two had 2006 ZX1-s, Hickman was riding a. 2005-spec ZX10 with Bitubo suspension.

Hawk were Kawasaki’s frontline team in BSB for several years until the arrival of MSS Discovery Kawasaki in BSB this year with Michael Rutter.