Bradley_Smith_(motorcyclist)

Bradley Smith (motorcyclist)

Bradley Smith (motorcyclist)

British motorcycle racer

Bradley William Smith (born 28 November 1990) is a British occasional motorcycle racer who for 2022 is linked to RNF E-Racing in MotoE. He was injured shortly after a Le Mans start when he was the opening rider team for Moto Ain Yamaha, at an FIM Endurance World Championship event in April 2022. He missed the opening three rounds of the MotoE racing season, being declared unfit to race at the third round at Mugello on 29 May 2022.[1]

Quick Facts Nationality, Born ...

Late in 2022, Smith was called-in to ride as a rookie in the World Supersport Championship class, to replace injured Leonardo Taccini.[2] Smith finished 14th after a three-place penalty in the first race at Circuito San Juan Villicum (Argentina),[3] but was taken out when Luca Bernadi crashed into the rear of his Ten Kate Yamaha R6 at turn one early in the second race.[4][5]

Smith was previously contracted from 2019 to Aprilia Racing as a development/test/replacement rider in the MotoGP class of the World Championship.[6]

Smith was also contracted as a development officer, "to assist with rider recruitment and development" in the inaugural eSkootr Championship race series planned for 2022.[7] During 2021 he was expected to participate in a British GP2 event, part of a series run alongside the British Supersport championship, for a one-off ride at Snetterton but failed to arrive at the circuit, instead competing in moto cross event.[8][9][10]

Smith is the only rider to have taken a podium in all four classes of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, with top-three finishes in the pre-Moto3 125 cc class, Moto2 class, MotoGP class and MotoE World Cup.

Smith had a long association with the French Tech3 team, riding for six seasons, two in Moto2 class and four in MotoGP using factory-supported Yamaha YZR-M1 machines. He won the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2015, with Yamaha teammates Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Pol Espargaró.

Career

Early career

Born in Oxford, Oxfordshire,[11] Smith's father raced in Motocross, and the family owned an open practice track. Smith got his first motocross bike aged six.[12]

Smith applied for selection to the Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) academy for young racers, but was never chosen. He spent a year in 2004 aged 13 competing in Aprilia Superteens competition, finishing fourth behind three ACU Academy riders. In January 2005 he was asked to compete for the year in the Spanish 125cc championship as part of the MOTO GP Academy, winning the last three races ending the year 2nd just one point behind the champion.

125cc World Championship

For 2006, he joined the Repsol Honda 125cc Grand Prix World Championship squad, managed by Alberto Puig finishing 19th overall and rookie of the year, with a best result of 8th place in Motegi.

Remaining with the team in 2007, he took a first podium with third place at Le Mans.[13] Nine more top-10 finishes left him 10th overall.

Smith signed with the Polaris World Aprilia team for the 2008 season.[14] He secured his first pole position at the opening round of the season at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar on 8 March,[15] but suffered a technical problem while leading.[16] A number of midseason injuries affected him,[17] but he scored podium finishes at Jerez and Le Mans (after briefly leading the five-lap sprint required by a red flag for rain). He led at both Assen and Sachsenring, but finished off the podium in both. He ended the season sixth overall, with three poles and four podium finishes but no victory.

Smith at the 2009 British Grand Prix

For the 2009 season, Smith signed for Jorge Martínez's Bancaja Aspar Team to continue to ride an Aprilia, alongside Julian Simon. The deal also included an option to race in 250s for the team in 2010.[18] Smith had almost signed for the team in 2008, before signing for Polarisworld.[19]

Smith won his first ever Grand Prix with a dominant performance at Jerez in May 2009. Smith's first Pole Position of the season came at Mugello in which he scored his second Grand Prix victory after a brilliant fight against Nicolás Terol and Julian Simon. This race put Smith in the lead of the Championship with 74.5 points, just 3.5 points ahead of Simon. However, Simon hit form and ultimately won the title. Smith finished second to his teammate in the last three races of the season, losing the lead on the final lap in two of them. He ultimately finished as series runner-up.

In August 2009, Smith stated his ambition to move up to the new Moto2 class with the Aspar team,[20] but the team's two seats were given to Julian Simon and Mike Di Meglio instead. In November 2009, Smith agreed a deal to remain with the Aspar team in the 125cc class for 2010 alongside Nicolas Terol.[21]

Smith was a favourite for the title in 2010, after finishing runner-up in 2009, however the year was dominated by Spanish trio Marc Márquez, Pol Espargaró and Nicolás Terol. Smith did however manage three pole positions and six podiums, including a win at the final round of the season in Valencia on the way to fourth place in championship standings.

Moto2 World Championship

Tech3 (2011–2012)

2011

After the 2010 Portuguese Grand Prix, it was announced that Smith would be competing in Moto2 in 2011, racing for the Tech3 team, alongside one of the riders that had denied him a Moto2 move a year previous, Mike Di Meglio.[22] On 19 September 2011, it was announced that Smith had signed a three-year contract with Tech 3 that would see him remain in Moto2 in 2012, before moving to MotoGP in 2013.[23]

Smith started his debut campaign in the Moto2 class well with seventh in his first race before following it up with a fourth-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix. Smith scored his first podium with a second-place finish in his home Grand Prix at Silverstone, and he followed it up with two third-place finishes at the next two rounds. Smith finished his début season in the class, in seventh place in the final championship standings.

2012

Smith's 2012 season was full of consistent points-scoring finishes, scoring points in all bar two races, but without a podium. His best result was a fourth-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix, and he eventually finished the season in ninth place in the final championship standings.

Petronas Sprinta Racing (2019)

2019

Smith replaced Khairul Idham Pawi at his home grand prix in Silverstone, as one of several replacement riders following the Malaysian's withdrawal from the season due to injury.

MotoGP World Championship

Monster Yamaha Tech3 (2013–2016)

2013

Smith was promoted to the premier class aboard a Yamaha for Tech3, with teammate Cal Crutchlow. He concluded the season in 10th place, with 116 points, running consistently within the top ten riders in most races. His best result were a trio of sixth places obtained in the Catalan, German and Australian Grands Prix.

2014
Smith at the 2014 French Grand Prix

In 2014, Smith continued to race with Tech3, with teammate Pol Espargaró. He finished fifth in the second round of the championship, the Grand Prix of the Americas in Texas, achieving his best result at that time. Later in the season, Smith achieved his first podium in MotoGP at Phillip Island, finishing in third place; he took advantage of late-race crashes for Cal Crutchlow and Espargaró to move into the position.[24] He also received a penalty point from Race Direction, after he was deemed to have overtaken another rider under yellow flags.[25] He finished the season in 8th place.

2015
Smith alongside Valentino Rossi at the 2015 Catalan Grand Prix

Remaining with Tech3 for the 2015 season, Smith finished each of the first twelve races in the top ten placings, with two fifth-place finishes being his best results. At the San Marino Grand Prix, Smith achieved his best MotoGP result with a second-place finish despite staying out on track on slick tyres as rain was falling – he fell as low as 21st in the race order before riding through the field.[26] With Scott Redding finishing third, the duo became the first pair of British riders to finish on a premier class podium since Barry Sheene and Tom Herron did so at the Venezuelan Grand Prix in 1979.[27] With 181 points, Smith achieved his (as of February 2020) career-best finish in the MotoGP class in 6th place, best of all non-factory riders.

2016

In 2016 a difficult start to the season culminated in a mid-season injury in practice at the Czech round. Though he started the Czech race before a mechanical retirement, Smith subsequently missed the next 3 rounds due to the sustained injury, being replaced by superbike rider Alex Lowes.[28] Smith was relegated to just 17th place in the rider's championship.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2017–2018)

2017

In March 2016, Smith was confirmed as the first-signed rider for the new KTM works entry to the championship.[29] He was later joined by his long-time Tech3 teammate Espargaró.[30]

The 2017 season proved difficult but positive for Smith and the new constructor, finishing third-to-last of all regular riders and well behind his teammate, but achieving sufficient points to finish ahead of Aprilia in the constructors' championship and 10th of 12 in the teams' championship.

2018

2018 showed slight improvement for Smith as he climbed to 18th place in the championship with 38 points, though well behind teammate Espargaró, despite having fewer retirements on the season.

Aprilia Racing Team

2019

With the high-profile signing of Johann Zarco at KTM, Smith was dropped by the factory team. He was quickly signed by Aprilia in a test rider role. Aprilia elected to enter Smith as a wildcard entry at four rounds: Qatar, Jerez, Catalunya, and Aragon. With 2 retirements, a 17th- and a 19th-place finish, he achieved 0 points in his wildcard entries.

Aprilia Racing Team Gresini

2020

Smith came back as a replacement full-time rider, after Andrea Iannone's suspension due to a doping controversy. He was replaced by Lorenzo Savadori for the last three rounds.

MotoE World Cup

One Energy Racing (2019)

For 2019, alongside his Aprilia test and wildcard rider duties, Smith was permitted to sign with One Energy Racing for the inaugural season of the MotoE World Cup.[31] Of the six race season, Smith achieved four podiums and clinched second place in the standings with 88 points.

World SSP Championship

Ten Kate Racing Yamaha (2022)

At 2022, Bradley Smith will make his World Superbike debut in Argentina round with the Ten Kate World Supersport team.[32]

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

More information Season, Class ...

By class

More information Class, Seasons ...

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Class ...

Suzuka 8 Hours results

More information Year, Team ...

Supersport World Championship

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Bike ...

References

  1. [1]
    MotoGP Le Mans: Smith ruled unfit bikesportnews, 12 May 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022
  2. [2]
    Ex-MotoGP rider Bradley Smith to make WorldSSP debut with champs Ten Kate Yamaha visordown.com, 15 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022
  3. [3]
    2022 San Juan Villicum World Supersport Race One Result: Last Lap Fight motomatters.com, 22 October, 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022
  4. [4]
    Bradley Smith makes WSSP debut with Ten Kate motorcyclesports.net, 16 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022
  5. [5]
    Dominique Aegerter's attack in the final metres earned him his second win of the weekend motorcyclesports.net, 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022
  6. [6]
    KTM MotoGP racer Bradley Smith announced as 2019 Aprilia test rider Autosport, 7 September 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018
  7. [7]
    eSC announces Rider Programme and appoints MotoGP Rider Bradley Smith eSkootr Championship, 10 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021
  8. [8]
    Bradley Smith to wildcard for Spirit Moto Corsa at Snetterton Spirit Motorcycles, 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021
  9. [9]
    Ex-Moto GP star Bradley Smith postpones wildcard race with Dorset team Spirit Dorset Echo, 2 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021
  10. [10]
    Team slams ‘disrespectful’ ex-MotoGP man Bradley Smith for Snetterton no-show visordown, 6 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021
  11. [11]
    "Official MotoGP profile". Archived from the original on 25 June 2007.
  12. [12]
    Shea, Julian (26 March 2006). "Teenager Smith hits the big time". BBC News.
  13. [13]
    "LONDONBIKERS". LONDONBIKERS. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  14. [14]
    "Bradley Smith for full factory backed Aprilia 125".
  15. [15]
    2008 125cc Qualifying – Qatar[permanent dead link]
  16. [16]
    "Yahoo UK & Ireland - Sports News - Live Scores - Results". Yahoo Sports.
  17. [17]
    "Bradley Smith nearing full fitness for German clash".
  18. [18]
    Ltd., Crash Media Group. "Smith column: Signing for Aspar. - MotoGP News". Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  19. [19]
    Sports, Dorna. "Aspar confirms Smith and Simon for 2009 125cc team". www.motogp.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  20. [20]
    "Bradley Smith for Moto2 in 2010". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  21. [21]
    Ltd., Crash Media Group. "125: Bradley Smith signs for 2010. - MotoGP News". Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  22. [22]
    "Smith and Di Meglio to front Tech 3 Moto2 effort next season". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 31 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  23. [23]
    "Smith signs Tech 3 MotoGP deal". Carole Nash. Insidebikes. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  24. [24]
    "Maiden MotoGP podium for diligent Smith". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 19 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  25. [25]
    "Rossi takes 82nd premier class victory in incident packed race". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 19 October 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  26. [26]
    "Smith: "Luck favours the brave"". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  27. [27]
    "Two Brits join Marc Marquez on the podium". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  28. [28]
    "Smith out for Silverstone and Misano - Lowes to step in". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  29. [29]
    "KTM signs Bradley Smith as MotoGP™ factory rider". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  30. [30]
    "Pol Espargaro to join KTM's MotoGP™ efforts". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  31. [31]
    "Smith teams up with One Energy Racing for 2019 MotoE™ season". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  32. [32]
    "Ex-MotoGP rider Bradley Smith lands World Supersport ride". 13 October 2022.
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