French MotoGP: Bradley Smith second in first free practice

Britain’s Bradley Smith has finished second in the first 125GP practice in Le Mans this morning as he tries to get his early season success back on track.

The Polaris World Aprilia rider recorded his first podium at the French track last year with a third place and is hoping he can put his two non finishes from Shanghai and Jerez.

Smith told MCN at Le Mans: “After the last couple of races I need a finish but I’ll still be going out to win.”

Smith’s best time came on his penultimate lap with a 1:44.729 just 0.11secs behind top man Sergio Gadea, also on an Aprilia.

Nicholas Terol made it an Aprilia top three with his best lap recorded at 1:44.984.

Danny Webb was the second highest British rider in 13th place on his Aprilia. The 17-year-old’s best lap was recorded at 1:46.296 on his 16th lap of 18.

Third British rider, Scott Redding, was in 18th place after the first session with his best lap almost two seconds off the top riders at 1:46.564.

French MotoGP 125GP first free practice results:

1 Sergio GADEA SPA Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1’44.618
2 Bradley SMITH GBR Polaris World APRILIA 1’44.729
3 Nicolas TEROL SPA Jack & Jones WRB APRILIA 1’44.984
4 Esteve RABAT SPA Repsol KTM 125cc KTM 1’45.315
5 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Ajo Motorsport DERBI 1’45.396
6 Andrea IANNONE ITA I.C. Team APRILIA 1’45.442
7 Stefan BRADL GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing APRILIA 1’45.492
8 Simone CORSI ITA Jack & Jones WRB APRILIA 1’45.593
9 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1’45.607
10 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Belson Derbi DERBI 1’45.624
11 Joan OLIVE SPA Belson Derbi DERBI 1’45.812
12 Sandro CORTESE GER Emmi – Caffe Latte APRILIA 1’46.149
13 Danny WEBB GBR Degraaf Grand Prix APRILIA 1’46.296
14 Efren VAZQUEZ SPA Blusens Aprilia Junior APRILIA 1’46.299
15 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN ISPA KTM Aran KTM 1’46.486
16 Michael RANSEDER AUT I.C. Team APRILIA 1’46.502
17 Lorenzo ZANETTI ITA ISPA KTM Aran KTM 1’46.531
18 Scott REDDING GBR Blusens Aprilia Junior APRILIA 1’46.564
19 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol KTM 125cc KTM 1’46.854
20 Pablo NIETO SPA Onde 2000 KTM KTM 1’46.968
21 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN I.C. Team APRILIA 1’46.988
22 Pere TUTUSAUS SPA Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1’47.045
23 Stefano BIANCO ITA S3+ WTR San Marino Team APRILIA 1’47.144
24 Raffaele DE ROSA ITA Onde 2000 KTM KTM 1’47.223
25 Alexis MASBOU FRA Loncin Racing LONCIN 1’47.312
26 Robert MURESAN ROU Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing APRILIA 1’47.404
27 Dominique AEGERTER SWI Ajo Motorsport DERBI 1’47.796
28 Cyril CARRILLO FRA FFM Honda GP 125 HONDA 1’47.851
29 Steven LE COQUEN FRA Villiers Team Competition HONDA 1’47.854
30 Hugo VAN DEN BERG NED Degraaf Grand Prix APRILIA 1’48.390
31 Robin LASSER GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing APRILIA 1’48.440
32 Stevie BONSEY USA Degraaf Grand Prix APRILIA 1’49.549
33 Gioele PELLINO ITA Loncin Racing LONCIN 1’49.549
34 Valentin DEBISE FRA Racing Motoclub Circuit D’Albi KTM 1’49.692
35 Louis ROSSI FRA FFM Honda GP 125 HONDA 1’49.774
36 Roberto LACALENDOLA ITA Matteoni Racing APRILIA 1’50.479
37 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI Red Bull KTM 125 KTM 1’50.841
38 Tobias SIEGERT GER Adac Nordbayern e.v. APRILIA 1’51.876