German MotoGP: Brit Bradley Smith claims heroic front row

Gutsy British teenager Bradley Smith produced a heroic performance this afternoon to claim a spot on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s German 125 MotoGP. 

Riding with broken bones in his left hand, knee and foot, the 16-year-old ended today’s final qualifying session with the fourth fastest time.

Defying the pain and discomfort, the Repsol Honda rider clocked a best time of 1.27.576 on a brilliant last lap and finished just 0.737s off pole-setter Gabor Talmacsi.

He slashed a massive 0.645s off his best time from yesterday’s opening session, despite punishing hot conditions at the Sachsenring.

Smith said: “I have got to be happy with fourth and a front row when you consider my physical condition. The last lap was something special and I managed to put everything together when I needed to.

“My foot is the worst problem but it is coming better with every session. We are just trying to make it better for tomorrow because it is going to be a long and difficult race.

“I know I’m going to be in pain but I have given myself the best opportunity with the front row to go away and follow the leaders. But I know it is going to be difficult both physically and mentally.

“It will be tough physically because of the foot and mentally because it is a long race in hot conditions. But I’m still looking forward to it.”

It was only 16 days ago that Bradley Smith was lying in hospital in agony in Holland after Andrea Iannone struck him at close to 100mph in the opening practice session for the Dutch MotoGP at Assen.

It was initially feared that he might be sidelined until the Czech Republic GP in Brno on August 19.

Joining Bradley Smith and Talmacsi on the front row will be Mattia Pasini and Hector Faubel who qualified second and third respectively.

MotoGP 125 qualifying two results:

1. Gabor TALMACSI HUN APRILIA 1:26.839
2. Mattia PASINI ITA APRILIA 1:27.255
3. Hector FAUBEL SPA APRILIA 1:27.266
4. Bradley SMITH GBR HONDA 1:27.576
5. Lukas PESEK CZE DERBI 1:27.706
6. Sandro CORTESE GER APRILIA 1:27.728
7. Simone CORSI ITA APRILIA 1:27.798
8. Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI KTM 1:27.829
9. Sergio GADEA SPA APRILIA 1:28.019
10. Esteve RABAT SPA HONDA 1:28.094
11. Michael RANSEDER AUT DERBI 1:28.108
12. Andrea IANNONE ITA APRILIA 1:28.204
13. Pol ESPARGARO SPA APRILIA 1:28.212
14. Joan OLIVE SPA APRILIA 1:28.268
15. Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN KTM 1:28.277
16. Stefan BRADL GER APRILIA 1:28.318
17. Pablo NIETO SPA APRILIA 1:28.343
18. Mike DI MEGLIO FRA HONDA 1:28.711
19. Roberto TAMBURINI ITA APRILIA 1:28.751
20. Georg FROEHLICH GER HONDA 1:28.894
21. Stefano BIANCO ITA APRILIA 1:28.905
22. Raffaele DE ROSA ITA APRILIA  1:29.038
23. Lorenzo ZANETTI ITA APRILIA 1:29.076
24. Joey LITJENS NED HONDA 1:29.362
25. Alexis MASBOU FRA HONDA 1:29.431
26. Federico SANDI ITA APRILIA 1:29.489
27. Nicolas TEROL SPA DERBI 1:29.499
28. Steve BONSEY USA KTM 1:29.712
29. Simone GROTZKYJ ITA APRILIA 1:29.850
30. Dominique AEGERTER SWI APRILIA 1:29.264
31. Daniel WEBB GBR HONDA 1:30.363
32. Hugo VAN DEN BERG NED APRILIA 1:30.636
33. Eric HUEBSCH GER APRILIA  1:30.746
34. Dino LOMBARDI ITA HONDA 1:31.203
35. Patrick UNGER GER APRILIA 1:31.389
36. Sebastien ECKNER GER HONDA 1:32.191