No time to celebrate for schoolboy Bradley

Bradley Smith had little time to celebrate his brilliant career first 125 GP podium as he jetted back to England today to begin his last week at school.

The 16-year-old became the youngest British rider in history to claim a world championship podium when he claimed a superb third place in the French GP at Le Mans on Sunday.

Having not been outside of the top three positions in any session during a weekend, Smith made the most of his career first front row start and broke away immediately in a four-rider bunch which included world championship leader Lukas Pesek.

Undaunted by the illustrious company around him, Smith maintained a strong pursuit of eventual winner Sergio Gadea and Mattia Pasini throughout, while fending off the dogged challenge of Czech Republic rider Pesek.

Smith’s podium was assured on lap 20 when luckless Italian Pasini’s Aprilia broke down for the fourth time in the opening five races of the season.

Pasini’s retirement left the Repsol Honda rider 10 seconds clear of fourth place, and he rode a calm and collected last couple of laps to take Britain’s first 125 podium in 18 years.

Smith said: “I’m mega happy. Ever since I joined the MotoGP Academy I have been working towards this moment.

“I knew Pesek was right behind me all of the time because I could hear his engine. But I just rode my own race and tried not to make any mistakes. When Pasini broke down I was still thinking about fighting for the victory, but Gadea and Pesek pulled a bit of a gap on me.

“Just after Pasini had pulled out I’d hit a neutral and that unsettled me for a bit. I wanted to keep pushing to see if they made a mistake but in my head I was also thinking don’t crash.”

Smith is due back in school tomorrow to begin his last week before leaving on Friday to concentrate fully on his racing caree.

And he added: “This is a big breakthrough for me and now I’ve got to keep on running at the front. I’ve always known I could do it, but actually doing it is another matter.

“I’m always motivated so now I’m just looking forward to Mugello and trying to get another podium and be consistently running at the front with the these guys.”