In depth: Kyle Smith on his decision to race in Britain

A whole new era of Supersport racing will shortly be forged in the heat of real competition within the BSB paddock and it received another early boost when three-time WorldSSP race winner Kyle Smith was announced as the first rider signed up for the Dynavolt Triumph team.

Operated by Simon Buckmaster’s UK-based PTR racing setup, the one-time top Honda WorldSSP competitors will run and help develop the official Triumph machine, based on the 765cc three-cylinder engine concept used in Moto2.

Smith is a seasoned WorldSSP competitor, with over 60 race starts to his name. He enjoyed two of his total nine WorldSSP podium places in the latter stages of 2020, riding in place of the injured Jules Cluzel for the French GMT94 Yamaha squad.

On paper the mix of Smith/PTR and a new ‘big-bore’ Triumph is a potentially potent one, with Smith’s lack of familiarity with the BSB tracks he will be racing around seeming to form the main question mark at this stage.

Having moved from his native Huddersfield to the Calpe region of Spain at the tender age of seven, and being a product of the Spanish MX and then roadracing environment until his global career really began, Smith has never raced at any UK circuit except Donington Park.

A complete change of race series was part of the package of attractions for Smith around this new Triumph project, especially as he will be part of a familiar set-up in some other regards.

“I have always got on with Simon Buckmaster, raced for him before and it has always gone good,” said Smith, who is currently 29 years old. “He came up with the project of racing with Triumph. We have been speaking for a while. For me, it is good. Racing in England, there will be a few tracks I don’t know – every track I don’t