Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith Finds the Groove Again

Oxfordshire rider Bradley Smith continued his weekend-long duel with Aspar Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon in the second practice session for the 125cc Spanish GP, finishing just 0.321s slower than his Spanish team-mate.

Smith headed yesterday’s opening practice session, but this time he had to accept runner-up spot to Simon’s 1m 47.203s best. Championship leader Andrea Iannone (Aprilia) finished third fastest, 0.417s behind Simon.

Andrea has 37.5 points after two rounds, and the Aspar pair desperately need victories to keep their championship hopes alight. Simon is in second place, with 30 points, and Smith holds seventh place, on 11.5 points.

Britons Scott Redding (Blusens Aprilia) and Danny Webb (Degraaf Aprilia) finished seventh and 16th in the session, but GP debutant Matthew Hoyle, on the troubled Haojue machine, completed only six laps, the best being more than 15 seconds off pace.