Brits crash unhurt in Mugello

British duo Bradley Smith and Danny Webb both escaped injury after crashing in this morning’s 125 free practice session in Mugello.

With rain threatening constantly during the 45-minute session, the track did stay dry throughout but Smith crashed his Repsol Honda on his last lap.

The 16-year-old Oxfordshire rider, looking to build on his brilliant debut podium in last month’s French GP at Le Mans, ended the session 10th fastest with a best time of 2.00.029 that he set on the 14th lap of 19 completed.

He had been as high as fifth at one stage in the session but crashed out late, though he walked away from the incident.

Webb completed just five laps when he lost the front of his privateer Honda at a fast right-hander.  His best time of 2.04.813 left him down in 32nd place.

Like Smith he walked away unscathed though it did appear from TV pictures that the teenager had suffered problems with stones trapped inside his helmet as he tumbled through the gravel trap.

Italian Mattia Pasini, who clocked a best time of 1.58.518, headed the session. That beat Gabor Talmacsi by 0.398s while Lukas Pesek was third fastest.

Smith was again comfortably the quickest Honda rider, with the next best down in 14th position.

Saturday free practice results:

 1 Mattia PASINI ITA APRILIA 1’58.518
2 Gabor TALMACSI HUN APRILIA 1’58.916
3 Lukas PESEK CZE DERBI 1’58.978
4 Hector FAUBEL SPA APRILIA 1’59.281
5 Simone CORSI ITA APRILIA 1’59.352
6 Sandro CORTESE GER APRILIA 1’59.609
7 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN KTM 1’59.616
8 Sergio GADEA SPA APRILIA 1’59.829
9 Michael RANSEDER AUT DERBI 1’59.921
10 Bradley SMITH GBR HONDA 2’00.029
11 Raffaele DE ROSA ITA APRILIA 2’00.096
12 Lorenzo ZANETTI ITA APRILIA 2’00.400
13 Nicolas TEROL SPA DERBI 2’00.406
14 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA HONDA 2’00.617
15 Pablo NIETO SPA APRILIA 2’00.623
16 Joan OLIVE SPA APRILIA 2’01.042
17 Alexis MASBOU FRA HONDA 2’01.407
18 Pol ESPARGARO SPA APRILIA 2’01.466
19 Simone SANCIONI ITA APRILIA 2’01.688
20 Andrea IANNONE ITA APRILIA 2’01.768
21 Joey LITJENS NED HONDA 2’01.802
22 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI KTM 2’01.867
23 Dino LOMBARDI ITA HONDA 2’02.216
24 Federico SANDI ITA APRILIA 2’02.450
25 Simone GROTZKYJ ITA APRILIA 2’02.533
26 Steve BONSEY USA KTM 2’02.794
27 Hugo VAN DEN BERG NED APRILIA 2’02.873
28 Roberto TAMBURINI ITA APRILIA 2’02.976
29 Roberto LACALENDOLA ITA APRILIA 2’03.159
30 Robert MURESAN ROU DERBI 2’03.303
31 Dominique AEGERTER SWI APRILIA 2’04.322
32 Daniel WEBB GBR HONDA 2’04.813
33 Tobias SIEGERT GER APRILIA 2’08.974