RIP Paul Smart

[dusty350]

Legendary Ducati racer Paul Smart has died.

Paul passed away following a road traffic collision earlier today (27-10-21). He was 78.

A much-loved and respected racer, Paul was best known for winning the 1972 Imola 200 for Ducati but he also enjoyed success with Suzuki, Triumph, Kawasaki and Yamaha factories both in Europe and America until he retired in 1978.

Paul leaves wife Maggie, son Scott and daughter Paula.

paul_and_maggie by dusty miller, on Flickr

RIP

[dusty350]

Paul Smart (23 April 1943 in Eynsford, Kent – 27 October 2021[1]) was an English short circuit motorcycle road racer who later entered Grands Prix.

Smart started racing in the latter half of the 1960s after attending the Charles Mortimer Race School at Brands Hatch race circuit, Kent in 1965,[2] initially buying a Bultaco which proved expensive and unreliable, and later riding a variety of machinery in different classes on UK short-circuits.[3]

For 1966 Smart shared a 125 cc Honda with John Button whilst saving money to buy a 250 cc Cotton which he rode successfully at club level, eventually winning the MCN 250 cc Championship. After the Cotton engine failed, he was provided with a Greeves by Chas Mortimer.[3]

He won the 250 cc class at the Stars of Tomorrow meeting at Mallory Park, England on 3 July 1966 riding a Greeves.[4]

He first entered the Isle of Man Manx Grand Prix in September 1966 riding a Greeves Silverstone[5] as used by the race school.[6]

During 1967, Smart was sponsored by Charles Mortimer Senior, proprietor of the Charles Mortimer Race School based at Brands Hatch race circuit, Kent, riding from a stable consisting of RDS Greeves 250s, a Bultaco 125 and an Aermacchi 350 together with Chas Mortimer, Charles' son. Both were also employed as road race instructors at the race school.[7]

At the Isle of Man TT Races on a Norton for Paul Dunstall, Smart scored second place in 1967[8] and again second on a Norton in 1969,[9] both in the Production 750 cc class.

Smart moved on to regular successes during 1969 when he was sponsored by Joe Francis Motors, a London motorcycle dealer selling AMC,[10] which provided a 750 cc Norton, a Seeley, a 250 cc Yamaha, and winning the Hutchinson 100 Production machine event on a Triumph 750 cc.[11] For 1970 there was a works Triumph Trident 750 cc and his own 350 cc Yamaha.[3]

In the early 1970s Smart was riding in North America for the Hansen Kawasaki team on air-cooled H2R two-stroke triples.[12][13]

Smart is famous for winning the Imola 200 on 23 April 1972, at age 29, riding Ducati's new 750 racer, based on the GT750 roadster. Ducati paid his airfare and £500 wages.[12][14] A 750SS road bike and production race version followed, turning into the 1975 900SS which continued until the early 1980s.[13]

Smart also raced in Grands Prix in the early 1970s, with second-place results in 1971 in both the 350cc and 250cc categories, riding Yamaha machinery.[15]


Ducati Paul Smart Replica
After making history for Ducati and winning further races, in 1978 Paul finally hung up his leathers and retired from competition to concentrate on his motorcycle business[16][12] which he expanded into three separate shops at one stage. He sold the shops and the family caravan park business in Kent, later qualifying as an offshore sailing skipper, formalising his long-time hobby.[13]

In 2006, Ducati produced a 1000cc limited-edition PaulSmart 1000 LE, in recognition of the 1972 Imola win, designating it Paul Smart 1000LE. It had the advanced-technology of the time, but resembled the 1972 race bike.[13]

Paul married Barry Sheene’s sister Maggie[12] in 1971.[17] Son Scott is a former Grand Prix racer who has won races in the British Superbike Championship and then turned to Superstock.

[midlifecrisisrd]

RIP Paul 😔

Steve

[arrdy350]

RIP Paul 😞

[tonyd123]

Smart at Daytona on the Team Hansen Kawasaki H2R two-stroke triple

[veg]

RIP paul.

[evochris]

RIP Paul, so sorry to hear this.
My father and I bought our Honda's from him in the 90's & 2000's he was always willing to chat with us, we had a reputation of throwing our bikes down the road and got a bit of a repour with him, we bought a lot of CBR and VFR fairings from him lol. I have some framed signed prints of pencil VFR drawings hanging in my workshop. He was a great bloke and such a tragedy.

[abar121]

RIP Paul Smart. A wonderful chap that always had time for his fans and fellow competitors.

Very sorry to hear that it was a traffic accident. That's terrible.

[donkeychomp]

What a lovely story. He lived an amazing life, so sad he had to go in a bike accident. Rest well Paul.

Alex

[reggieperrin]

I managed to spend some time with Paul Smart at a Sheene memorial dinner in 2004. He was more interested in flirting with my girlfriend (nicely ) than talking about bikes but we eventually got there..
He signed the Sheene painting that I'd bought in the auction and then took the girlfriend off for a dance..

Thoroughly nice guy and such a shame..