The stars of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship will battle for Snetterton’s most prestigious two-wheeled title, the Pirelli Race of Aces, this weekend (3/4/5 September). The winner will be crowned following three headline races on Saturday and Sunday as the Norfolk circuit’s two-wheeled heritage is celebrated in its 70th anniversary season.
The overall winner following three Bennetts BSB races will add their name to an illustrious list of winners, dating back to 1965 when the late, great Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood won claimed the inaugural accolade. Hailwood was just one of many big name winners to claim the prize, alongside other popular heroes including Paul Smart, Mick Grant, Keith Huewen and James Whitham.
Legendary rider Giacomo Agostini has a corner named after him in honour of his Race of Aces winning exploits at the circuit in 1972, whilst another Grand Prix hero who claimed the main prize in the ‘70s was Phil Read.
Multiple British Superbike champion John Reynolds lifted the title in 1992 before the trophy was retired for a time. The title was resurrected as a Bennetts BSB round in 2019, with Scott Redding claiming the title before Glenn Irwin followed his example a year later.
Ahead of this weekend's event at Snetterton, some of the previous winners reflected on their memories of the 'Race of Aces'.
Paul Smart (1971)
“I always loved racing at Snetterton; back then I was racing with the factory Triumph and we used to go up to the track for testing. Once or twice, we even tested with Colin Chapman in the Lotus and we were on track with Formula 1 cars. They said just keep to the left on the straights back in those days! It was a really friendly atmosphere and always a great memory.
“The main thing always was, and still is today, that you have to always beat your teammate. My teammate at the time was also a really good friend, Ray Pickrell, and it was always fun between the pair of us.
“I loved the old Snetterton circuit as it was always so fast. We always had good fun there and we had some great camaraderie in the paddock. I won quite a few races at Snetterton over the years and the Race of Aces was of course a great achievement.
“I got to know some of the riders who also won it, like Mike Hailwood and I was fortunate enough to have been a teammate of his during my career, but I never raced against him in the UK, which was a shame, it was in America.”
Keith Huewen (1980, 1983)
“Snetterton has always been close to my heart. From club racing to winning my first big race, the atmosphere is second to none! The old Snetterton layout was a simple track, which made it hard to find an advantage – that was the challenge. There is always a fantastic atmosphere, friendly marshals and an opportunity for an upset.”
Roger Marshall (1985)
“The Race of Aces was a huge prestigious trophy to win, so for me, winning the Race of Aces at Snetterton in 1985 was a highlight of that season, a very proud moment for both myself and the Rothmans Honda team.
“I always liked racing at Snetterton, it was where I had my first ever decent result on 350 Yamaha so it was a special moment for me. Those events including Race of Aces, King of Brands, Race of the Year were highlights of the season for any rider, so to win at them was always extra special.”
Roger Burnett (1986)
“As someone that grew up watching my hero’s race motorcycles nothing was more prestigious than Snetterton’s Race of Aces - Barry Sheene, Mick Grant, Barry Ditchburn and more all duelled for the Trophy.
“To have won the Race of Aces myself means so much to me, and will always be remembered as one of my special achievements. This weekend’s race will be as hotly contested as ever with BSB riders running so close it’s a tough one to call!”
Jamie Whitham (1988, 1991)
“I won the Race of Aces more than once and it was a great race to be in. It was always a separate race back then, rather than how it is incorporated into a British Championship round now. You could actually run anything you wanted and I remember actually building a big, fast bike a couple of times because of the big, long straight and that was really important!
“It is a great one to win, because if you look at the trophy, and the names of the riders who have won it in the past, they are just legends. A generation of riders before me, like Mick Grant, Giacomo Agostini and Mike Hailwood, it was always one you wanted to win.”
John Reynolds (1992)
“I was very fortunate that I had a great team and a great bike when I competed in the race at Snetterton. It suited every circuit we went to that season and we did claim quite a few lap records that year! Snetterton really suited the way the Kawasaki worked.
“I had a bit of a different style that year – I don’t know why, but I used to have my foot under the seat, possibly because I am so short! It was something I developed and only ever on that bike. It is a great honour to have won such a prestigious title as it had been won by so many incredible riders before me.”
Race of Aces previous winners
1965 Mike Hailwood
1989 Steve Spray
1990 Trevor Nation