British MotoGP: Bradley Smith 11th quickest in Donington Park deluge

Bradley Smith claimed 11th place on the provisional grid in an opening 125 MotoGP qualifying session run in diabolical conditions at Donington Park this afternoon.

Bradley Smith logged a best time of 1.59.105 as torrential rain drenched the 2.5miles circuit.

That was 0.6s slower than he managed in this morning’s opening free practice session where he escaped injury in a crash, but conditions this afternoon were far more severe as Donington Park was pounded by heavy rain.

Fastest time again went to Hungarian Gabor Talmacsi who set a best of 1.55.921 to leave the 16-year-old British rider 3.184s adrift and on the provisional third row.

Talmacsi’s time was 0.069s quicker than Aspar Aprilia team-mate Hector Faubel, with French rider Mike Di Meglio third fastest after he continued his good form in the soaking conditions.

He’d finished second fastest this morning while Simone Corsi claimed the last place on the provisional front row with a best time of 1.57.464.

Bradley Smith’s fellow British world championship regular Danny Webb finished 27th fastest with a best time of 2.02.846.

The five British wild card riders hoping to contest Sunday’s 25-lap British 125 MotoGP will be hoping for improved conditions tomorrow as none of them made the qualifying cut off time of 2.04.035.

Closest was Luke Jones who was 1.9s outside of the qualifying barrier.

Despite the appalling conditions there were surprisingly few victims with Federico Sandi, who was third fastest this morning, crashing out early without injury on the exit at Goddards.

Mattia Pasini, Michael Ransender and Dominique Aegerter all crashed out without injury.

STANDINGS

1. Talmasci  Aprilia  1.55.921
2. Faubel  Aprilia  1.55.990
3. Di Meglio  Honda  1.56.028
4. Corsi   Aprilia  1.57.464
5. Krummenacher KTM  1.57.613
6. Koyama  KTM  1.57.654
7. Gadea  Aprilia  1.58.562
8. Olive   Aprilia  1.58.671
9. Pesek  Derbi  1.58.707
10. De Rosa  Aprilia  1.59.029
11. Smith  Honda  1.59.105
12. Rabat  Honda  1.59.265
13. Sandi  Aprilia  1.59.621
14. Muresan  Derbi  1.59.821
15. Ranseder  Derbi  2.00.095
16. Zanetti  Aprilia  2.00.119

GBR

27. Webb  Honda  2.02.846