Kent’s Howie Mainwaring will be back on the MCE British Superbike grid in 2016 as he makes the move to Smiths Racing for the coming campaign.

Having spent the last two seasons racing for Quattro Plant Kawasaki he will join Czech rider Jakub Smrz, in a two rider line-up aboard the BMW S1000RR.

It is an experienced rider line-up for the Smiths team, with Howie having won his first race in the 2014 season, it gives them a positive platform to build on in 2016, following a string of top ten finishes for Howie during 2015.

The Gloucester-based team led by father and daughter Alan and Rebecca, have risen through the ranks of the support classes since their debut in the British paddock in 2010, becoming one of the most successful teams in the Supersport class in recent years. The team made their debut in the premier class in 2015 with the BMW S1000RR, scoring their first podium finish in MCE BSB at Cadwell Park.

Giving his thoughts on his new challenge for the coming season, Mainwaring said: “I am really looking forward to the 2016 season and can’t wait to start working with everyone at Smiths Racing and alongside a very experienced team-mate in Kuba.

“I feel with my team-mate’s experience and my determination it will work really well and it will show with the results. To be honest I can’t tell you how excited I am as words can’t express my feelings. It’s time to get my head down now and up the training ready for the first test on the bike which can’t come soon enough.”

Team Manager Rebecca Smith was also pleased to be able to unveil such an exciting line-up for the team, she: “Running a two rider Superbike team was always something that we talked about and aspired to achieve and so it feels great to finally put this into place for 2016. We’ve had some great success and also a lot of fun in the Supersport class but the time is right for us to move the team on and fully commit to the premier class.

“We are welcoming the opportunity to work with both Kuba and Howie and believe that they will really complement one another. We will be continuing our progress from 2015 in staying with BMW for 2016. We have an extensive testing programme planned and are very much looking forward to getting this underway and beginning our 2016 campaign.”