Ady Smith was National Supermoto Champion in 2001 and is one of Britain’s foremost Supermoto riders. His interest in motorcycle racing began in his youth when his father, who was also a professional motorcyclist, introduced him to the sport.
“When I was ten my father took me to my first trial race. I loved it and my dad bought me my first bike. By the time I was 18 I had a job in a motorcycle shop and began doing Enduro racing. Gradually I improved and over time began to think that I could be a decent rider. I entered the British championship in 1984 and have been riding professionally ever since”.
Smith’s transition to Supermoto came at a time when the sport was still in its infancy. In the early 1990s Supermoto was already established in France but it was not until the outbreak of foot and mouth disease that the sport began to gain prominence in the UK. Though almost an accident of fate, Smith quickly embraced Supermoto:
“A guy came over from France looking to promote Supermoto here. I had heard about it and simply got my Enduro bike and refitted it with different tyres, and turned up to the race. After that I went to France and rode Supermoto there but here I continued doing Enduro until 2001. When foot and mouth disease broke out Enduro slowed down because on any land that had cattle on it, which included many of the off-road Enduro courses, you could pick up mud, and if you didn’t wash your bike properly it could have spread much more easily, so many competitions stopped. But with Supermoto being largely tarmac based I was able to move across. KTM, my sponsors, also wanted to continue with me and so supported my move to Supermoto.”
Supermoto was devised as a form of racing that demands the skills of all the other competitive disciplines. Smith says he loved it immediately. “It’s very fast and close with lads banging into each other throughout the course. It’s very competitive, and there’s nothing like having a result at the end of the day you race. Other forms of racing can take days to finish with the winner announced at the end.”
Supermoto has been described as a combination of skill, fitness and pure insanity, but Smith disagrees. “You need to be fit and skilful, but I don’t think you need to be mad – you need to be clever. Clever riders win races. Mad ones crash and end their careers.”
Still, when asked whether he had experienced any trouble with injuries Smith said he hadn’t had any to speak of, but went on to list the bones he’d broken (most of them as far as I could tell), including a compound fracture where the bones actually protruded from his leg. “But nothing major such as head injuries?” I asked. “Well, yeah,” he replied, “I’ve had plenty of concussions. But that pretty much comes with the territory.”
Supermoto requires a high level of fitness so to keep in shape Smith says he eats well and avoids alcohol during the season, but “will probably have a couple of beers around Christmas.” He rides a mountain bike three to four times a week, but largely relies on racing itself and training to stay fit.
Smith’s advice for anyone who wants to get involved in Supermoto is to make sure they are aware of what the sport involves. “These days the best thing to do would be to get on the net and find a website to get more information. There are also a number of good publications available including Supermoto Magazine which is the bible to the sport.” Smith runs training courses and usually teaches people on smaller 450cc bikes because “it is far better to get complete control over a slower speed bike before graduating to the kind of bike I ride. It is possible to go straight to the line without any training, but of course it is better to have lessons before you do”. A new bike could cost anywhere between £3000 and £5000, but Smith offers day courses for people without their own motorbike for £290.
The costs and dangers of Supermoto are not inconsiderable, but for Ady Smith, and the sport’s rapidly growing fan base, these are easily outweighed by Supermoto’s speed, excitement, grittiness and intensity.
Ady Smith runs courses throughout the country. Visit www.adysmith.co.uk. For more information about the sport go to www.southernsupermoto.co.uk or www.motogb.net or pick up a copy of Supermoto Magazine
