Estoril MotoGP: Bradley Smith suffers big practice crash

Bradley Smith suffered a massive high-side crash during opening 125GP practice in Estoril today.
The British teenager had slipped down the rankings to tenth having earlier held third spot when he suffered a vicious high-side on his Aspar Aprilia with just under 15 minutes remaining.
The Oxfordshire rider, who has scored successive podium finishes in Indianapolis and Misano, was taken by ambulance to the circuit medical centre where he is currently undergoing checks.
By the end of the session Smith’s best time of 1.48.423 left him 18thh on the timesheets and 2.5s away from Julian Simon’s blistering pace at the top of the leaderboard.
Smith’s Aspar Aprilia team-mate Simon can wrap up the world 125GP title this weekend if results go his way and he made the perfect start by dominating the session.
The Spaniard clocked a best time of 1.45.880 to finish over a second clear of Andrea Iannone.
Iannone’s best of 1.46.958 secured him second by 0.090s from Sergio Gadea with Marc Marquez fourth quickest.
Despite his spectacular tumble, Smith was still fastest Brit on a sun-kissed opening day in Estoril.
Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding was only 20th fastest with a best time of 1.48.511, which was just 0.028s faster than Danny Webb on the Degraaf Aprilia.