Smith on form as Sepang weekend gets underway

In intense heat at the Sepang circuit, and with the track temperature peaking at 49°C at the midway point of the session, Bradley Smith rode the fastest lap of the opening practice of the weekend by a margin of 0.2seconds in the 125cc class.

His time of 2’14.895 set the standard ahead of next quickest rider, Marc Márquez (Red Bull KTM), with Smith’s Bancaja Aspar team-mate and new World Champion Julián Simón third – a further 0.106s behind Márquez.

Smith, who is currently second in the championship with a 21-point lead over Nico Terol (Jack & Jones Team) – who came in fourth fastest – is determined to consolidate his position in the overall standings after seeing Simón clinch the title last weekend.

Jonas Folger (Ongetta Team I.S.P.A.) completed the top five, 0.851s adrift of Smith’s pace, with Sandro Cortese (Ajo Interwetten), Joan Olivé (Derbi Racing Team), Simone Corsi (Fontana Racing), Esteve Rabat (Blusens Aprilia) and Pol Espargaró (Derbi Racing Team) all registering top-ten times as well.

Danny Webb’s wretched luck with crashes continued as the Degraaf Grand Prix rider suffered another towards the end of the session after two accidents at Phillip Island, while Efrén Vázquez (Derbi Racing Team) had a slide when pushing too hard as he exited a corner, but immediately climbed back aboard his machine to complete the practice. Local rider Elly Ilias also took a tumble towards the end, but was okay after a high-side.