Home rostrum for crowd pleaser Smith

Bradley Smith’s season got the kickstart he had desired on Sunday with a first podium of the 2010 season, and the British rider was overjoyed with third place in his home race at Silverstone.

The 125cc rider won a three-way battle with team-mate Nico Terol and Efrén Vázquez for the final podium spot, and after a gruelling 17-lap race he expressed his delight after coming so close in the previous three rounds.

“It’s been a long time coming!” said Smith, who maintains fourth place in the Championship standings. “It was so tough out there and I just decided that today was the day I was not going to go home without a trophy! To get this podium in front of my home crowd and my family and friends means a lot.”

Marc Márquez and Pol Espargaró pulled away from the rest of the field early on as they established a sizeable lead to the front, and Smith believes he could have been up there.

“It was a tough race and I think I could have been fighting with Marc and Pol, but in the end third was the best position we could have got today. Unfortunately the bike didn’t quite have the perfect set-up, but the potential is there. I think it’s just a mistake on the team’s part but we know the right direction so at Assen everything should be clear and okay, and I’m just looking forward to getting there now. It’s only a few days until we’re back on track so for a rider this is great fun.”

After his Silverstone result Smith is now brimming with self belief as he looks to track down the top three in the World Championship standings.

“I’m full of confidence, it’s been a great last three races and I think we now have the momentum to carry it on for the rest of the season,” he concluded.