Kent’s Finn Smart-Weeden has announced that he will be moving up to the Pirelli Sportbike Championship grid in 2024.
The 2023 HEL British Junior Supersport Champion will join forces with True Heroes Racing next season.
Smart-Weeden was crowned the final Junior Supersport Champion and now will progress into the new class following a new partnership with True Heroes Racing powered by The PALs and Synergy to compete on the Aprilia RS660.
Smart-Weeden is the son of two British Army Veterans, so fits the ethos of the True Heroes Racing Associate Rider programme. By competing under this concept, he enables even more opportunities to be offered for Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) UK Service personnel and Veterans to become directly involved and benefit from activity as members of the team. With the provision of a brand-new Aprilia RS660 and full season technical support from Graham at Synergy Racing and substantial underpinning support from The PALs Battalion they are ready for the new challenge.
Speaking about the move for 2024, Smart-Weeden said: “I’m really excited to be entering into this partnership with True Heroes Racing, The PALs Battalion and Synergy Racing. I’m really grateful to all to be offered this opportunity and thank all those for their support.
“As a new championship I am under no illusions we have a challenging few months ahead before the first round, but we have a good plan to get to grips with the Aprilia and the step up in power for me and I think we have the full potential to fight at the front.
“This whole concept excites me and allows me a unique opportunity to further my racing, while supporting people from the same background as my parents.”
True Heroes Racing Founder and Team Principal, Phil Spencer added: “It’s great to be able to be a part of this partnership with Leon and Graham and to assist the son of a pair of British Army Veterans at the same time. There’s no pressure from us on Finn, I’m just hoping for a great season for him as we take the first step on this road to who knows where. Finn understands through his parents just how beneficial our activities can be for those who need support in a unique way, making this project even more special.”
Leon Stokes, Founder of the Pals Battalion CIC added: “It’s great to be able to facilitate this collaboration with True Heroes Racing and Synergy Racing. Phil and I have been talking for a while now about doing something together and this project with Finn is hopefully just the first step on an exciting road ahead. The inspirational and unique support our organisations provide to our beneficiaries from the UK Military Veteran communities have immense synergy, so to bring a partnership to the track is great.”
Graham Carter from Synergy Racing concluded:“ I’m excited to be returning to the BSB paddock as part of this partnership with Phil and Leon in order to support Finn moving his racing up the championship ladder.”