STEWART Smith's motorcycle team have hit a perfect 10 after 10 stunning wins on the road this season.

The Accrington two-man team of disabled owner Stuart Smith and Welsh rider Ian Lougher has has seen off several million pound corporations to celebrate victories out of 15 races on his TSR 250 Honda over the season.

And Stewart, a former motorcyclist who was disabled 13 years ago in a race in the Isle Of Man, is delighted with Ian's show as he has never finished out of the top three.

"It has been our best season ever," said Stuart, 54, who works on the bike in his garage in Accrington.

"Ian is a class rider, a professional rider, and he has been an Isle of Man TT winner eight times.

"I have known him for years and approached him about riding for my team last year and he came back to me a while later and asked if the offer was still there.

"We are a small team which works on a limited budget.

"I do all the work on the bike from my wheelchair in my garage.

"I set the bike to Ian's settings and he obviously has confidence in me and I enjoy doing it

"It has been a great season for me watching Ian. I get more nervous watching as, when you are riding you just get on it, but watching is hard work.

"I get so much satisfaction from it and the doctor says it is therapy for me. Otherwise I would probably sit and vegetate."

Stewart fell off his bike in 1992, doing 150mph in the Isle of Man and is paralysed from his chest downwards.

"You don't get up from crashes like that," said Stewart, who raced for 15 years and competed at national level.

"You know when you compete in motorsports events that they are dangerous - but I guess that is what attracts you to it.

"I started back with the bikes, training young lads, around 1996 and it has progressed from there."

Stewart has been helped in his team ambitions by local firms which have contributed financially so Stewart can keep the bike on the road - and get a top class rider.

"We are dependent on firms helping us out as without them we wouldn't function.

"Some of the teams we are competing against have budgets of more than £1m as they compete in more races which require more bike parts whereas my budget is in the hundreds of pounds category.

"It is like a tyre bill would cost £1000 but we have a contract with Bridgestone and they supply us free of charge.

"But Hugh Davies Car Sales, Alpha Personal Loans, Keith Dixon Motorcycles and Cloud Nine, from Padiham, have all helped us out and made it possible to have someone like Ian riding for me."

The past few seasons, have seen Stewart's team do failry well but he and Ian have reached new heights in this campaign together.

They have competed, from March to September, in all kinds of events ranging from the Scarborough Spring National, to races in Nothern Ireland and the Isle of Man as well as Wales.

The races varying between 26 miles and 60 miles.

"We even broke the lap record in Ireland when we won," said proud Stewart.

"It is the most successful season I have every had. Ian is a class rider and he has given me a lot of enjoyment."