Smith: The cool-down lap was the coolest thing I've ever witnessed

Bradley Smith might not have had the end to his home race that he wanted at Silverstone, when a cracked rear rim forced him into the pits and left him at the back of the field in Sunday’s race.
 
However, the local boy says that he’s been ‘humbled’ by the reaction of his home crowd, and that it has helped him deal with the disappointment of failing to score points in front of the 67,000 people who packed into the Northamptonshire circuit.
 
“The result was disappointing, but the crowd were so amazing. Even rejoining after changing tyres, I could hear a massive roar from them, and the cool-down lap was the coolest thing I’ve ever witnessed. To have had such a disappointing day and then have everyone cheering for me like that was very humbling.”
 
“I could have called it a day, but instead I came into pit lane and told the team ‘put in whatever wheel you’ve got.’ It was partly to try and see what the problem was, but even if I was three seconds a lap down, Iwanted to cross the line. The support we’ve had throughout the season, not just here but everywhere, was the reason I continued. The people made it extra special, and the support I got made it feel extra special.”