French MotoGP: Mixed fortunes for Brits as Bradley Smith finishes second but Danny Webb crashes out

There was mixed fortunes for the British riders in the first 125 qualifying session in France this afternoon as Bradley Smith finished second but Danny Webb crashed out.

Smith had looked set to put himself on course for a provisional fourth pole position of the season but was just pipped at the end of the session to the top spot by Sergio Gadea.

Danny Webb briefly topped the time sheets after 20 minutes with a 1:46.086 but spent most of the session mid-field. His day was to end on the grass though as he high-sided his Aprilia with just over seven minutes remaining and initially landed on his back as he slid onto the grass. Medical staff had to stretcher the 17-year-old off from the side of the track.

Webb is currently in the medial centre at the Le Mans circuit having his injuries assessed.

Yellow flags were also waving at the final corner before the start / finish straight with just over 20 minutes left of the session as Marc Marquez crashed off his Repsol Honda. Efren Vasquez was then the unfortunate rider to get caught up with the flailing Honda CBR125 and also crashed off, landing on his shoulder.

Bradley Smith shot up to third on the timing screens with 19 minutes left and then shot to the top with a 1:43.675 on his next lap of the Le Mans track to knock previous fastest rider Simone Corsi down to second.

Sergio Gadea was to end Bradley Smith’s perfect run by posting a 1:43.515 to knock the British rider down to second.

On his last flying lap Smith tried to post another quick time, but was unable to beat his earlier fastest time.

Last rider to end the session on his backside rather than on his motorcycle was Tomoyoshi Aoyama.

French MotoGP 125 qualifying one results:

1 Sergio GADEA SPA Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1’43.515
2 Bradley SMITH GBR Polaris World APRILIA 1’43.614
3 Stefan BRADL GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing APRILIA 1’43.710
4 Simone CORSI ITA Jack & Jones WRB APRILIA 1’43.711
5 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Ajo Motorsport DERBI 1’43.956
6 Esteve RABAT SPA Repsol KTM 125cc KTM 1’44.344
7 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Belson Derbi DERBI 1’44.485
8 Joan OLIVE SPA Belson Derbi DERBI 1’44.532
9 Nicolas TEROL SPA Jack & Jones WRB APRILIA 1’44.603
10 Sandro CORTESE GER Emmi – Caffe Latte APRILIA 1’44.737
11 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1’44.769
12 Scott REDDING GBR Blusens Aprilia Junior APRILIA 1’44.974
13 Andrea IANNONE ITA I.C. Team APRILIA 1’45.074
14 Alexis MASBOU FRA Loncin Racing LONCIN 1’45.152
15 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN ISPA KTM Aran KTM 1’45.158
16 Raffaele DE ROSA ITA Onde 2000 KTM KTM 1’45.236
17 Stefano BIANCO ITA S3+ WTR San Marino Team APRILIA 1’45.268
18 Stevie BONSEY USA Degraaf Grand Prix APRILIA 1’45.275
19 Danny WEBB GBR Degraaf Grand Prix APRILIA 1’45.442
20 Pablo NIETO SPA Onde 2000 KTM KTM 1’45.541
21 Lorenzo ZANETTI ITA ISPA KTM Aran KTM 1’45.709
22 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN I.C. Team APRILIA 1’45.889
23 Dominique AEGERTER SWI Ajo Motorsport DERBI 1’46.066
24 Robert MURESAN ROU Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing APRILIA 1’46.140
25 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol KTM 125cc KTM 1’46.230
26 Efren VAZQUEZ SPA Blusens Aprilia Junior APRILIA 1’46.271
27 Hugo VAN DEN BERG NED Degraaf Grand Prix APRILIA 1’46.376
28 Pere TUTUSAUS SPA Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1’46.416
29 Cyril CARRILLO FRA FFM Honda GP 125 HONDA 1’47.185
30 Robin LASSER GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing APRILIA 1’47.259
31 Gioele PELLINO ITA Loncin Racing LONCIN 1’47.371
32 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI Red Bull KTM 125 KTM 1’47.704
33 Michael RANSEDER AUT I.C. Team APRILIA 1’47.751 4 6 4.236 0.047 213.3
34 Roberto LACALENDOLA ITA Matteoni Racing APRILIA 1’47.854
35 Steven LE COQUEN FRA Villiers Team Competition HONDA 1’48.056
36 Valentin DEBISE FRA Racing Motoclub Circuit D’Albi KTM 1’48.298
37 Louis ROSSI FRA FFM Honda GP 125 HONDA 1’48.300
38 Tobias SIEGERT GER Adac Nordbayern e.v. APRILIA 1’50.021