Racing team hangs up its leathers after 14 years

The team started out in the 125cc class, as it was, and progressed from there to Superstock 600 and now to Supersport. There have been many setbacks and achievements along the way on what has been a spectacular journey for a small family team from Morpeth.

Helping young riders establish themselves in the paddock and acting as a stepping-stone for progression was always the aim of SGR Racing, and it has certainly achieved that. Over the last two seasons the privateer team has achieved pole positions and podiums in the tough Supersport class, which is no easy feat.

The team has decided it is now time for family and to spend weekends horse riding, rallying and seeing friends rather than putting all their time and energy into racing.

Stephen Kinghorn, Team Owner says: “The time just felt right. Both Ruth and Georgina are keen horse riders, I fancy doing some rallying and when we are away racing all the time we just can’t fit those other things in. It will also be good to have more family time together. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in the paddock and made some lifelong friends along the way. We will attend some events just to enjoy the racing and see everyone, but for now it’s our time to hang up the leathers and look at what else we can achieve as a family.

“I would like to thank all the people and sponsors that have supported the team through the years without them British bike sport wouldn’t be the great spectacle it is. Most of all I would like to thank my family for being with me every step of the way.”

*The 11th round of the Dickies British Supersport championship at Donington was a difficult round for SGR Racing and Tom Oliver, with a fifth in class in race one and an unfortunate crash in race two.

Oliver started the feature race from the front row, third place on the grid, but on lap 16 of the 18-lap race he took an unfortunate tumble when challenging for a fourth place finish.