Paul Smart... RIP

[Nurse Julie]

Just heard that Paul Smart has passed away. I bought my 1st 400/4 off him in 1979, a 2 year old F2 in Parakeet Yellow. I used to spend a lot of time at his shop in Paddock Wood and his other workshop in Hawkhurst. A true racing legend.

[SumpMagnet]

that is sad news.

[MrDavo]

Damn that’s sad. On a bike, too.

I went to the Race of the Year at Mallory Park in 1974, an amazing field with Read and Bonera on the MVs and Ago on a Yamaha, plus Sheene, Smart and all the usual suspects.

I think Paul was leading when his brakes failed going into the hairpin. I wandered down there during the subsequent red flag, and was very concerned to see him being treated on the track, with legs pointing in directions that they definitely shouldn’t go in.

[K2-K6]

Really sad news.

Remember him hanging off the side of a 750 Suzuki watercooled racer, also that win at Imola on Ducati against Agostini on his 750 MV Agusta.

A life of quite some style.

[Spitfire]

Sad, sad news indeed, I can remember him hanging off his bike like nobody else, great racer.

Dennis

[Seabeowner]

That is bad news. A British bike hero of the early 70s. Remember him as a big part of the UK team in the Transatlantic Trophy races we used to go to at Brands Hatch every Good Friday. (Except one when it snowed) RIP

[andy120t]

I hope we can all keep riding for as long as we want to. 78 is a great age but it's a tragedy that that's a life cut short. Best wishes.