After a last minute decision with Clive Padgett to enter the Superstock 1000 race this weekend, John McGuinness got the team’s 2013 season off to a storming start and delighted all his fans by not only qualifying on the front row, but also by making a text book start and then dominating the race for 20 of the 24 laps, finally claiming the final podium position for his best short circuit Superstock 1000 result since 2009.

Despite being only one of 2 Hondas in the class, McGuinness looked well placed as the race progressed, pulling away from the field as they fought to establish the pecking order. However a “feet off the pegs” slide coming through Clearways unsettled the 19 times TT winnner, allowing ex-team mate Adam Jenkinson to reel him in and sneak past going into Paddock, closely followed by Filip Backlund as they entered Surtees. Fortunately fourth place finisher Peter Ward was far enough back that McGuinness was able to reel off the remaining laps without pressure and pick up another trophy for the cabinet.

McGuinness intends to enter as many rounds of this year’s Championship as his endurance and road racing commitments allow and is looking forward to trying to repeat his podium achievement at next week’s Thruxton round where he will be joined by fellow roads specialist Bruce Anstey.


In the main class Padgett’s are running the talented Czech Jakub Smrz as a sole entry. Smrz enjoyed some British Superbike action at the very end of last year and was delighted to be offered an opportunity to compete for the whole season with the Padgett’s team.

Competing around the Brands Hatch Indy circuit for the first time and having only ridden the bike a few times before this weekend, even getting into the points was a tall order considering the quality of the BSB field – especially as the bike has none of the rider aids to which he has become accustomed. However that is exactly what Smrz managed in the first race after qualifying on the fourth row. Showing no signs of deferring to more experienced BSB runners he mixed it with the best of them to take 13th place and and open his 2013 account with 3 points.

In the second race he was again starting from the fourth row, but this time found it a little more difficult to make his mark, running around in a train of five riders fighting it out for 15th place. At the end of a hard fought race Smrz had to be content with 18th place, albeit only 1.6 seconds behind 15th place man Matteo Baiocco and ahead of experienced UK racer Martin Jessopp. Bearing in mind the lack of pre-season testing and the unusually cold weather, the team were happy that Smrz had proven that he is a World class rider and are expecting great things in the coming season. To underline their welcome to the new team member, they even managed to present him with a cake on the grid to celebrate his 30th birthday.

The Czech rider now has to cope with moving from the shortest circuit in the Championship to the fastest as the BSB circus moves to the daunting Thruxton airfield circuit next weekend. Last year the Padgett’s team celebrated its first Superbike win of the modern era with Ian Lowry. This year? Who knows?! With McGuinness on fire and Smrz learning fast, anything’s possible!

2013 MCE British Superbike Championship With Pirelli – Round 1

Race 1 Result

1. Byrne
2. Lowes
3. Brookes
4. Kirkham
5. Bridewell
6. Farmer
7. Walker
8. Kiyonari
9. Jacobsen
10. Waters

13. Smrz (Padgett’s)

Race 2 Result

1. Ellison
2. Lowes
3. Byrne
4. Kiyonari
5. Brookes
6. Kirkham
7. Harris
8. Walker
9. Westmoreland
10. Farmer

18. Smrz (Padgett’s)

2013 Championship Positions

1. Byrne 41pts
2. Lowes 40pts
3. Brookes 27pts
4. Ellison 25pts
5. Kirkham 23pts
6. Kiyonari 21pts
7. Walker 17pts
8. Farmer 16pts
=9. Bridewell 11pts
=9. Jacobsen 11pts

16. Smrz 3pts (Padgett’s)

2013 Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship With Black Horse – Round 1

Race Result

1. Jenkinson
2. Backlund
3. McGuinness (Padgett’s)
4. Ward
5. Kennaugh
6. Jackson
7. Johnson
8. Burns
9. Railton
10. Brogan

2013 Championship Positions

1. Jenkinson 25pts
2. Backlund 20pts
3. McGuinness 16pts (Padgett’s)
4. Ward 13pts
5. Kennaugh 11pts
6. Jackson 10pts
7. Johnson 9pts
8. Burns 8pts
9. Railton 7pts
10. Brogan 6pts

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