Bradley Smith second in Jerez test

British teenager Bradley Smith ended the three-day 125GP test session in Jerez with the second fastest time as he finally narrowed the gap to dominant Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon.

The Oxfordshire rider has struggled to match Simon’s blistering pace during winter testing, but by the end of the penultimate test session of the 2009 pre-season in Spain the 18-year-old was only 0.1s off. 

Smith, who claimed four podium finishes during 2008, ended with a best time of 1.47.420 to comfortably claim second ahead of Andrea Iannone.

That was just a fraction slower than Simon as the Spaniard logged a best of 1.47.318.

Smith told MCN: “I’m much happier. To have cut that gap to Simon is a big plus because in the last couple of tests we have not been able to get close to him. He’s been leaving us behind by over a second but to have cut that gap is really pleasing.

“I’m really pleased with the performance of the bike at the moment. We have got a good direction with the set-up and I was able to work more on adapting to the rear brake that I only just started using at the last test in Estoril.

“I’m getting more comfortable with that and that is crucial because Simon makes up a lot of time on me in the braking area.”

Smith completes his pre-season preparations with a night test at the Qatar circuit just days before the opening race on April 12.