Sunday evening saw Spirit Motorcycles announce plans to welcome former MotoGP rider Bradley Smith into its British GP2 lineup, with a wildcard appearance at Snetterton’s BSB event next month.
The 30-year-old, who has raced in the MotoGP paddock since 2006 and the premier class since 2013 until departing Aprilia at the end of last season, is teaming up with Spirit Motorcycles as he continues to expand his Project 109 ahead the 2022 season.
Smith’s 'Coach 109' team has spent the last few months racing and testing in Italy with Alex Murley and Claudio Corti, while the overall aim is to race in next year’s FIM CEV European Moto2 Championship using the all-new Spirit SP3, powered by the Triumph 765cc engine.
To formally cement the partnership, Smith is looking to make a one-off appearance in the British GP2 Cup at Snetterton on the current Spirit SP2 - joining existing teammates Mason Law and Jamie Perrin.
Speaking to BikeSportNews this evening, however, the Oxfordshire rider has confirmed that the plans to compete are, as yet, not 100%.
“The team and I will test at Snetterton for 2 days - 23rd and 31st August” Smith affirmed, allowing time to familiarise himself with the Spirit GP2 machine and the Norfolk circuit.
“From there we will make a decision whether to enter a race as a wildcard or continue to develop the bike for 2022.”
