Patience the key for Bradley Smith, says Cal Crutchlow

Being patient and gradually building up experience and confidence will be crucial in helping British rookie Bradley Smith emerge into a consistent future podium threat in MotoGP.

That’s the opinion of Smith’s teammate Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate Cal Crutchlow, who has developed from a struggling rookie in 2011 into a major rostrum contender in 2013.

Crutchlow was only 12th in the rankings in his first season after a switch from World Superbikes but the 27-year-old made huge progress in his second season in 2012.

He more than doubled his point’s tally and moved up to seventh in the overall standings and he became the first British rider in 12 years to score a MotoGP podium in the process.

Crutchlow put his rapid rise to prominence down to gradually building up experience and confidence on the Tech 3 YZR-M1.

And he said: “Bradley is in exactly the same situation as I was when I came and if I give him any advice it is to stay cool. He can do a fast lap like I could do but you’ve got to be smooth and not expect too much just because you can do a fast lap.

I can do those fast laps now on the 20th lap but it takes time and experience is the key. I’ve another year under my belt and I’ve been learning from guys that are better than me.

Next year if I’m back I’ll be faster again but it takes time in MotoGP. In the first year I expected to come and win because I was winning somewhere else but it doesn’t happen like that and I learned that very fast.