British MotoGP: Bradley Smith tops final practice

Home favourite Bradley Smith boosted his hopes of a first victory of the season at Silverstone after he topped the timesheets in final 125GP practice this morning.

In bright but windy and cold conditions, the 19-year-old left it until his last lap to secure the fastest time to deny title challenger Pol Espargaro.

The Aspar Aprilia rider clocked a quickest time of 2.16.282 on his 14th lap to beat Espargaro by 0.120s.   

As has been a trademark of the 2010 campaign, Smith found himself in a fierce battle against a batch of top Spaniard’s.

At one stage he led the field by over a second but Espargaro ended with a fastest lap of 2.16.402.

Mugello race winner Marc Marquez was third fastest with a best time of 2.16.424 to finish 0.142s off Oxfordshire rider Smith.

The top four was completed by yet another Spaniard in the shape of Efren Vazquez, who had denied Smith a top three in yesterday’s opening practice.

Championship leader Nicolas Terol could only finish fifth fastest with a best time of 2.16.613 and he was the last rider to lap inside of a second of Smith.

British rider Danny Webb was ninth quickest but he could only log a best time of 2.18.049 as track temperatures hit only 16 degrees and air temperatures reached just 13 degrees.

Marquez’s best time of 2.15.835 set yesterday meant he ended practice fastest overall.