Bradley Smith hopes for French success

Bradley Smith is hoping a return to the Le Mans circuit will fire his 2010 125GP world championship challenge into life this weekend.

The iconic French venue has been a happy hunting ground for the Oxfordshire teenager, who has struggled to make an early impact in the opening two races in Qatar and Jerez.

But Smith is looking for a major confidence boost this weekend at a Le Mans circuit where he scored his first ever world championship podium back in 2007.

He was also third in Le Mans in 2008 and last year posted the fastest lap of the race on his way to fourth.

Smith currently trails series leader and Aspar Aprilia team-mate Nicolas Terol by 24-points and he said: “The last two weeks have been very important for me because we have had time to analyse why we haven’t been as fast as we would like in the first two races.

“We pretty much have it under control now and myself and the team have worked out how we can get back to the same pace as last season.

“I am very much looking forward to getting to work at Le Mans, which is a circuit that suits my style and holds good memories, including two podiums and the fastest lap of the race last year.

“It is an English-style circuit – narrow with lots of corners – so we will have to work hard on the set-up of the bike to make sure we’re ready.

“Despite the problems we’ve had in the first two rounds I am still fourth in the championship so now is the time to wake up and close the gap to the guys at the front.”