RIP Paul Smart (23 April 1943 – 27 October 2021)

Isle of Man TT podium finisher Paul Smart has died following a road collision involving his motorbike. Smart’s greatest claim to fame was winning the Imola 200 on a Ducati in 1972, however, he also tasted success at the Isle of Man TT in the late ’60s and early 1970s. His first visit to the TT podium came in 1967 as he took his Norton Dominator to second place to Triumph’s John Hartle in that year’s 750cc Production race. He was back on the same step in 1969’s edition of the 750cc Production TT, again finishing behind a Triumph, this time piloted by Malcolm Uphill. The final success at the Isle of Man TT came in 1970’s Junior TT, this time finishing ahead of Uphill by over two minutes. Paul’s last TT appearance, in 1974, ended in disappointing retirements from both the Senior and Formula 750 TT Races. Away from the Isle of Man Paul found great success on short circuits, competing for Triumph in the inaugural years of the Formula 750 championship, as well as tasting the life on the road as part of the ’C