Estoril MotoGP: Brits shine in Portugal monsoon

Treacherous conditions at the Estoril circuit in Portugal this morning did little to deter British duo Scott Redding and Bradley Smith.

Torrential rain and gusting winds battered the Portugal track but 19-year-old Smith topped the timesheets in the 125GP practice session.

And Gloucestershire rider Redding braved monsoon conditions to top the timesheets in a rain-lashed Moto2 session with Friday morning practice restored to the schedule.

Smith clocked a best time of 2.00.148 to finish nearly 2.5s clear of fellow British rider Danny Webb in the 125GP session. The Aspar Aprilia rider walked away unhurt from a heavy crash on his 12th lap.

Redding had an identical experience in the Moto2 session as a best lap of 2.04.031 put him 1.617s clear of Aussie Anthony West.

He also suffered a late crash too though when he lost control of his Marc VDS Racing machine as he exited the final corner. The 17-year-old, who scored a brilliant second place in Phillip Island earlier this month, was uninjured.

World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu was third quickest on his Moto2 debut. Replacing the late Shoya Tomizawa in the Technomag-CIP squad, he was 2.054s adrift of Redding.