German MotoGP: Bradley Smith third in storm-lashed practice

British teenager Bradley Smith set the third best time in an opening 125GP practice session disrupted by stormy weather at the Sachsenring today.

The session started under grey and gloomy skies but on a dry track the Aspar Aprilia rider clocked a best time of 1.29.423 to occupy third when storms lashed the Sachsenring track.

Thunder, lightning and torrential rain left the field sheltering in the pits for over 15 minutes, with Smith’s time only bettered by team-mate and world championship leader Julian Simon and Spaniard Marc Marquez.

Simon’s best of 1.28.594 in the dry conditions was 0.671s clear of Marquez and 0.829s faster than Oxfordshire rider Smith, who starts Sunday’s 27-lap race trailing Simon by 5.5-points in the championship standings.

Danny Webb ended the session in seventh place with a best time of 1.29.967 while Blusens Aprilia rider Scott Redding was a lowly 18th with a best of 1.30.612. Forecasts for the rest of the weekend indicate a strong chance of rain for tomorrow’s qualifying and Sunday’s race.  

 

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