Huge congratulations to Huddersfield racer Kyle Smith on notching his first victory in World Supersport.
His triumph in the final meeting of the 2015 World Superbikes Championship calendar came as something of a shock as the situation the 24-year-old faced heading to the Locsail International circuit was hardly condusive to success.
Kyle, based in Spain ever since leaving Fenay Bridge as a seven-year-old, travelled to Qatar knowing this was his last ride for the Pata Honda team having been told after the penultimate race of the season that his services would not be needed for 2016.
It can’t have felt too comfortable, but Smith is not the type to shy away from a challenge – and the challenge that faced him was putting on a show that would earn him a ride next season.
As it was he went into Sunday’s race with all the pressure removed as he signed a deal with Simon Buckmaster’s CIA Landlords Insurance team and will be on a Honda again in World Supersport next term.
I can only imagine that Kyle must have been just bursting to show his new employers what he could do on the track – and itching to make a point and give the team he was leaving a taste of what they will be missing.
Whatever his motivation he slid round the Losail corners with ease and held off the challenge of reigning world Champion Kenan Sofuoglu into the bargain.
It has been a hit and miss rookie season in the series for Kyle, podium finishes easily matched by falls and scrapes, but he showed in Qatar he is a maturing rider ready to start winning on a regular basis.
