 After moving to BSA, he won the 1953 and 1954 British Trials Championship.BSA asked Smith to compete in motocross racing which he did with such success that he soon began to concentrate on a motocross career.In 1964 at the age of 30 he captured the 500cc Motocross World Championship, defeating the defending champion, Swede Rolf Tibblin, and was voted the Motorcycle News 'Man of the Year' award.