Floodlights to illuminate the start of Smith’s challenge

Bradley Smith battled with former team-mate and 2009 125cc World Champion Julián Simón for last year’s title, and with the Spanish rider competing in the Moto2 class in 2010 the vacant eighth-litre crown now has a number of ambitious riders ready to fight for the right to succeed.

Smith knows what it takes to last the length of the season having pushed Simón hard in 2009, and the British rider of the Bancaja Aspar team expects to use all the experience gained last year and throughout his four World Championship campaigns to date as he bids to go one better in 2010.

“Pre-season has gone really well so I am calm and confident that we can do a good job. I think I have the necessary experience to handle whatever is thrown at us,” said the 19 year-old. “Testing went well and even though you could always do with a bit extra I am keen to begin the fight for points.”

“The first race is always special because it is when you really get to see what everybody has got and how well you have done your job over the winter. I love Losail as a circuit – I just hope that we don't have a repeat of last year's weather and that I can be fighting for the win,” concluded Smith, who finished last year’s race in fifth place, having qualified fourth on the grid.

The Brit can expect to again be in direct competition with a team-mate, who this year will be the talented Nico Terol. The Spanish rider finished third behind Smith in last season’s Championship race, and will this year ride alongside him for Bancaja Aspar.

“There are some really tough rivals in this class, as there are every year, but I have a lot of confidence – especially in terms of technical backing – and I know we're ready to fight with the best,” said Terol. “I'm really happy with pre-season. We have made progress with every Test and even though the weather hasn't always been on our side we were lucky to benefit from ideal conditions in the last session at Jerez.”