Casey Stoner backs Bradley Smith for title assault

Casey Stoner reckons rising British star Bradley Smith will be a serious 125GP world title contender in 2010.

The Aussie has been monitoring Smith’s career closely and was impressed with the Oxfordshire rider after his breakthrough campaign in 2009.

Smith won two races in 2009 and became the most successful British rider since the late Barry Sheene.

Smith claimed second in the world championship with six successive podiums in the final six races and Stoner said: “I’ve been watching him since he came into the championship and he did some awesome rides on the Honda coming from miles back.

“There’s few riders in 125s I like for their humbleness and they don’t go around saying I’m number one as soon as they win a race or do quite well. 

“It’s the ones that you can just tell are bloody happy with the job they did, and Bradley’s one of those people. So its really good for me to see him doing so well.”