The Boys Are Back In Town
The Oxfordshire schoolboy re-wrote the history books at the weekend when he finished third in the French race at Le Mans, riding the Repsol Honda, to secure his first grand prix podium finish .He is the youngest British rider to finish on the podium in any class in the 58 year history of grand prix racing and is the first British rider to finish on a 125 cc podium for 18 years.
Before the race at the Leicestershire circuit, Smith will be back at school taking exams in between racing at the Italian and Spanish Grands Prix before his homecoming race and that he cannot wait for.
"I love traveling the world but there is no where like home and I'm so looking forward to racing at Donington," explained Bradley, who cut his teeth racing in Britain progressing through the British Championship to the MotoGP Academy before embarking on a grand prix career at the start of last season. " I've had great support from the British fans at all the grands prix and there is nothing more I'd like to do than reward them with something to cheer about in their home grand prix. Donington is a great circuit which always produces an electric atmosphere and it will be a fantastic weekend."
There is no doubt that Bradley Smith is Britain's greatest prospect for grand prix and ultimately World Championship success for over two decades. A glance at those record books show just why. Only one other British rider, Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams has finished on the grand prix podium in this decade. The last British winner of a 125 cc grand prix was Chas Mortimer with victory in the 1973 Spanish Grand Prix in Jarama.
The 25 lap 125 cc race is the final event of the grand prix program which starts with the 250cc World Championship race, followed by the 'clash of the titans' MotoGP race on grand prix race day, Sunday 24 June. There will also be two support races after the 125's.
A massive success starved British crowd will be at Donington for the biggest sporting event of the year in the East Midlands to cheer on Bradley Smith. It was 26 years ago that a certain Barry Sheene became the last British rider to win a premier class (MotoGP) grand prix. Bradley Smith has a long way to go before re-writing that particular record but he starting in exactly the same way and in the same 125 cc class.
Barry Sheene would have been proud of him and would have loved those BS initials.
Money saving advance tickets for the Nickel and Dime British Motorcycle Grand Prix may be purchased via the web-site www.donington-park.co.uk or by calling the Ticketline on 08700 429669