Mugello MotoGP: Bradley Smith extends podium streak

Bradley Smith’s golden run of form in his maiden Moto2 campaign continued in Mugello yesterday after the Oxfordshire rider fought for victory throughout a gripping Italian Grand Prix.

The Tech 3 Racing rider made a brilliant start from the front row of the grid and became locked in a nail-biting fight with reigning 125GP world champion Marc Marquez and Moto2 world championship leader Stefan Bradl for the entire race.

The 20-year-old, who claimed second and third in wet conditions at Silverstone and Assen last month, seized the lead with just over two laps remaining before a mistake changing gear let Marquez and Bradl sweep back by.

Smith though had brilliantly disposed of the threat of circuit specialists Alex de Angelis and Andrea Iannone to claim a safe third, though he finished just over 0.4s away from Marquez.

Smith’s third successive rostrum made him the first British rider since 1972 to achieve such a feat in the intermediate class and he said: “We had the podiums in the wet in the last two races and that gave me great confidence, but we did a great job this weekend to show we are competitive in the dry as well. I got on the front row yesterday and to be honest I wanted to lead Marc and see what happened. But it was awesome to be able to run with Marc and Stefan.

“We’ve seen already this season that they are the two strongest riders in Moto2 but I finished right behind them and kept them under pressure for the whole race. That shows what a huge step I’ve taken in the first eight races but also the amazing job the Tech 3 Racing Team has done. I had another modified chassis to try this weekend so the guys never stop working and we are really reaping the benefits. I tried to give myself the best opportunity to win by going to the front a couple of laps from the end. I was just committed because I was losing a bit compared to Marc on the straight, but I didn’t quite have the speed to match them on the last lap. The pace was so hot but I couldn’t quite get them back, despite pushing at my absolute maximum.”

Smith’s latest top three finish drew praise from Tech 3 Team boss Herve Poncharal, who revealed Smith had been troubled by a right arm problem in the pre-race Warn-up session.

Poncharal said: “After Warm-up we were very worried because Bradley was complaining a lot about a right arm problem. He had a lot of pain and no more power. When the race started and I saw him in the front group I was very happy, but I could not stop thinking, ‘is he going to last the distance?’ But lap after lap he was there and he was incredible. This was an important race for him as before he did have two podiums, but they were in wet conditions, and I think still for him there was a question mark in the dry. He went through the pain with his right arm, but he finished third and was leading during the race for a moment. To stay with Bradl and Marquez means a lot, as they are both very strong. And Iannone and de Angelis are very fast here, but in the end they were not fast enough to stay with him.”