Smith gives the lowdown on young rider project

As a MotoGP Academy graduate and former CEV Buckler (Spanish National Championship) rider, Bradley Smith knows the importance of helping young talent to realise its full potential. This year the British rider finished second in the 125cc World Championship after a fine campaign saw him achieve nine podium finishes, including two wins.

Nineteen year-old Smith is now lending his support to the stars of tomorrow with an involvement in the development of youngsters as part of Team KRP Bradley Smith in the CEV Buckler, and is passing on his knowledge and experience of four World Championship seasons to the sons of former MotoGP riders Randy Mamola and Niall Mackenzie.

“The plan is to help the British riders have the opportunity to come to Spain, because the level here is so high,” explained Smith. “The riders we have are Dakota Mamola, son of Randy, and Taylor Mackenzie, son of Niall. Both have good potential, and in Jerez we had a great result with a 12th and a 14th.”

Smith continued: “I think they can both be very good, it’s just a case of giving them as much experience and knowledge as possible, and already they’re doing a fantastic job. The idea is to make the British Championship next year with Taylor, and with Dakota we are still waiting to see what his plans are. I think Taylor will make the Red Bull Rookies Cup next year, and we hope to have some podiums and some good races there. They’ve done a good job, I’ve enjoyed working with them and we hope next year will be a bigger and better project.”

Explaining his own experience in a managerial capacity as opposed to his regular position of being out on track, Smith added: “It’s not easy work! A rider’s job is always difficult, but the pressure is a lot less. When you’re a Team Manager you try to coordinate everything and you worry a lot for the riders; a lot of emotional energy is spent. I’ve enjoyed this but my job is as a racer at the moment, and not a manager. I’ve tried to help them as more of a rider-coach.”

You can hear more of Smith’s interview by watching the attached motogp.com video.