Huddersfield racer Kyle Smith will be hoping that another top five finish in World Supersport will have put him firmly in the shop window.
The 24-year-old from Fenay Bridge, who has lived in Spain since the age of seven, claimed fifth place in the penultimate round of the World Superbikes Championship at Magny-Cours.
His top five finish in France followed a fourth place in the previous round at Jerez, but the rider does not expect to retain his place in the Pata Honda team despite lying sixth in the standings.
Smith, in his first season in World Supersport, is hoping that he has done enough to attract interest from another team after a rookie year that has brought its fair share of thrills and spills.
“I have been very happy riding in my first season in World Supersport,” said Smith, who made his mark initially in Spain before spending time riding in Moto2 and then World Superstock before getting a shot at World Supersport.
“There have been a lot of new tracks and a lot to learn and while I have had a few crashes, there have also been a lot of top five finishes.
“I have nothing sorted out for next year just yet, and the team is only running one bike next season so I am on the lookout.
“I think that when I have had crashes it has been because I was a bit eager and pushing it, but I want to be at the front and fight for wins.
“But we will just have to see what happens next year and hopefully there will be somebody out there who will be willing to take me on.”
Smith again had a remarkable weekend in France and on a wet track that claimed a number of victims, he came off in qualifying when well placed to take pole position, but managed to take fourth on the grid.
“I was on a flyer on that last lap – a possible pole position lap – and crashed at the second-last corner,” explained Smith.
“It’s a complete bummer but it happens, and I was pushing, which I knew I had to do the get pole, but I just pushed it over the limit.
“I clattered my hip a bit because there’s a kerb as you come off the tarmac and on to the gravel, so I was a bit black and blue, but nothing to worry about.”
In the race Smith made a flying start to take second place but had dropped back to eighth when the race was red flagged due to oil and fluid on the track. From the restart he battled back up to fourth, but eventually had to settle for fifth.
The race was won by PJ Jacobsen (CORE Motorsport Thailand) after an edge-of-the-seat duel with the new 2015 World Supersport Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who settled for a safe second position and won a record fourth Supersport crown.
