With just over six weeks to go until one of the highlights of the supermoto calendar Team GB riders Chris Hodgson, Jay Smith and Richard Blakeman are making final preparations to take on the challenge of the 2016 Supermoto of Nations.
This year’s event will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya just a short journey from the historic city of Barcelona which will also present not only a fantastic setting, but also one of the most challenging circuit configurations testing all riders concerned.
Supermoto of Nations will mark its eleventh year in 2016 and for riders across the globe it provides the opportunity not only to represent their country, but moreover test their skills against the world’s best in supermoto. In reality there is a similarity to the Olympic Games and many do make reference to this event being the ‘Olympics of Supermoto.’
For Team GB the selection of rider’s represents one of the strongest teams fielded with 11 times British Supermoto Champion Chris Hodgson bringing substantial understanding of the event alongside the international riding experience of fellow team mates Jay Smith and Richard Blakeman. All riders at some point in their career have taken on the challenge of the World Championship and have a firm grasp of the skills required to compete at the top level of the sport.
For each of the riders it generates great pride to be selected to represent their country and the media coverage across European TV, hard copy press and all social media platform’s provides exposure to all their dedicated sponsors.
A strong contingency of supporters are busily booking hotels and flights where they will be on the side-lines willing our boys on in the late summer autumnal Spanish sunshine. So the riders will not be alone in their quest to land a podium place in one of the supreme events of the supermoto year.
Team Manager David Dearden comments: Team GB have a long and proud tradition of competing in the Supermoto of Nations, having contested in all but one event since the inaugural round in Northern Ireland in 2006. We have had highs with a second and three third place finishes and a number of lows but every team we have sent has competed to the last lap and represented their country, the ACU, sponsors and supporters in an outstanding fashion. This year I know will be the same, the first two riders Chris Hodgson and Jay Smith were an easy selection for me, however three other riders were in strong contention for the third spot but in the end Richard Blakeman’s past international experience and never say die attitude along with his irrepressible character meant he got the nod by the narrowest of margins.
I’d like to thank everyone who is helping support the team no matter how small the contribution as all the riders and management will have to dig deep into their own pockets to contest this event against significantly better funded opposition.