Bradley Smith - Brno Preview

"I'm hoping for a positive race in Brno, I'm extremely determined to make it a good result after the crashes at Sachsenring and Donington. Brno is a technical and wide track, with ample opportunities for overtaking. In the 125s it will be difficult to escape because it's another long circuit where slipstreaming is key. It's a bit like Mugello, in terms of length and the combination of esses and elevation changes. That means it will be crucial to get the set-up right at Brno, and to be strong at the end of the race. I hope that after the last two wet races, we can enjoy another sunny weekend and good conditions for racing."

Bradley Supporting Riders For Health In London Triathlon

MotoGP 125cc championship contender, Bradley Smith, will be raising money for the official charity of MotoGP when he takes on British Formula One star Jenson Button in a motorsport showdown at the Mazda London Triathlon on 2 August 2009.
 
As well as attempting to make sure motorcycling comes out on top in the race, Smith will be raising money for the work of Riders for Health (www.riders.org). Riders for Health mobilises health care workers in rural Africa with reliable motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles so predictable health care reaches even the most isolated communities.  To support Bradley and the lifesaving work of Riders for Health you can donate through his JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/bradleysmith.
 
Bradley also joined the other stars of MotoGP to support the work of Riders for Health at the annual Day of Champions event on Thursday 23rd July. The event helped to raise an incredible £177,000 and Bradley boosted the total when the racing leathers he was wearing for the race on Sunday sold for £1,600 in the MotoGP auction.
 
Smith challenged Button after they met at Silverstone during the British F1 Grand Prix where Smith, in recognition of his achievement of being the first British rider in three decades to lead any Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship, was attending as a guest of Bernie Ecclestone.
Despite his young age, Smith is no newcomer to triathlons - the swimming, cycling and running events are a major focus of his training regime and his personal trainer is an ironman regular who has been passing on all his experience to Smith.
 
This is the 13th year of the Mazda London Triathlon and Bradley will be among the 13,000 competitors taking part in the world’s largest triathlon raising a combined total in excess of £3 million for charity.

Exclusive Post-Race Quote From Bradley

We were really sorry when Bradley went down in Sunday's race (as was almost the entire crowd, judging by the huge wail of disappointment!) and he gave us these few words when we caught up with him later in the afternoon...

"I'm absolutely gutted. But with this sort of weather you just have to try everything to be in with a chance, and sometimes you push that bit too hard. At least I didn't just go down, at least I can say I went down trying. And I guess the main thing is that I 'm still in one piece"

Couldn't agree more. Best of luck for Brno - hope it brings you better luck.
And hope it brings us all a sunny race for once!

British GP, Donington: 125cc Race Result

CLASSIFIED:

Pos | Rider | Bike | Time
1. Julian Simon Aprilia 9m12.301s
2. Simone Corsi Aprilia + 0.390s
3. Scott Redding Aprilia + 3.072s
4. Nicolas Terol Aprilia + 6.209s
5. Takaaki Nakagami Aprilia + 9.509s
6. Luis Salom Aprilia + 11.211s
7. Lorenzo Zanetti Aprilia + 11.572s
8. D.Agerter Derbi + 13.703s
9. Efren Vazquez Derbi + 14.101s
10. Pol Espargaro Derbi + 15.422s
11. Tomoyoshi Koyama Loncin + 17.905s
12. Joan Olive Derbi + 25.625s
13. Johann Zarco Aprilia + 26.793s
14. Martin Glossop Honda + 27.916s
15. Marc Marquez KTM + 28.631s
16. Paul Jordan Honda + 28.999s
17. Lukas Sembera Aprilia + 30.564s
18. R.Krummenacher Aprilia + 34.468s
19. Luca Marconi Aprilia + 38.709s
20. Bradley Smith Aprilia + 38.938s
21. Luca Vitali Aprilia +1m14.040s


NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:

Rider | Bike | Laps
Jasper Iwema Honda 4
Lorenzo Savadori Aprilia 1
Alexis Masbou Loncin 1
Michael Ranseder Aprilia 1
Sergio Gadea Aprilia DNS
Sandro Cortese Derbi DNS
Esteve Rabat Aprilia DNS
Andrea Iannone Aprilia DNS
Stefan Bradl Aprilia DNS
Daniel Webb Aprilia DNS
Jonas Folger Aprilia DNS
Cameron Beaubier KTM DNS
Karel Pesek Derbi DNS
James Lodge Honda DNS
Tim Hastings Honda DNS

Bradley Smith - Qualfiying Quotes, British GP

Bradley Smith made history today by taking the final pole position for a 125cc Grand Prix at Donington Park with a stunning performance in this afternoon's qualifying session. Whilst his Bancaja team-mates Julián Simón and Sergio Gadea dominated this morning's free practice, it was Smith who moved to the fore in the afternoon to take pole position, his second of the season, at his home circuit ahead of the Spanish Armada of Espargaró Simón, Olivé, Gadea and Márquez. With the top six riders qualifying inside half a second, it promises to be a close battle for victory tomorrow.
Smith struggled for front grip this morning and could lap no better than twelfth fastest but the British teenager turned it around in the afternoon thanks to a great job by his mechanics. Having hovered in second place for much of the grid shootout, the Oxfordshire star produced two stunning laps at the very end to delight the home crowd.

Here's his take on the day's performance and his prospects for Sunday...
"That was a fantastic qualifying session for me - I felt like I had it under control all the way through and the bike was working perfectly. My confidence picked up as the laps went by and I was able to go faster and faster. I don't think we could ask for much more at the moment - just for the weekend to end successfully tomorrow! Whatever happens I have to stay focused because the points don't get dished out until tomorrow and that is when you've got to really produce the goods. The bike is more or less ready and we don't need to change anything before the race. Hopefully the weather is on our side and we have a dry race. It is important for us to get a good result tomorrow to keep our championship chances intact."

Bradley Grabs Pole For British GP

Pos | Rider | Bike | Time | Laps
1. Bradley Smith Aprilia 1m37.442s 21
2. Marc Marquez KTM 1m37.573s + 0.131s 21
3. Julian Simon Aprilia 1m37.749s + 0.307s 14
4. Sergio Gadea Aprilia 1m37.849s + 0.407s 17
5. Joan Olive Derbi 1m37.874s + 0.432s 21
6. Nicolas Terol Aprilia 1m37.989s + 0.547s 19
7. Pol Espargaro Derbi 1m38.117s + 0.675s 20
8. Sandro Cortese Derbi 1m38.367s + 0.925s 19
9. Esteve Rabat Aprilia 1m38.471s + 1.029s 17
10. Andrea Iannone Aprilia 1m38.484s + 1.042s 15
11. Scott Redding Aprilia 1m38.501s + 1.059s 20
12. Simone Corsi Aprilia 1m38.501s + 1.059s 21
13. Stefan Bradl Aprilia 1m38.555s + 1.113s 21
14. Daniel Webb Aprilia 1m38.570s + 1.128s 19
15. Jonas Folger Aprilia 1m38.848s + 1.406s 20
16. Efren Vazquez Derbi 1m38.879s + 1.437s 20
17. Michael Ranseder Aprilia 1m39.081s + 1.639s 18
18. D.Agerter Derbi 1m39.189s + 1.747s 21
19. Tomoyoshi Koyama Loncin 1m39.366s + 1.924s 20
20. Takaaki Nakagami Aprilia 1m39.393s + 1.951s 17
21. R.Krummenacher Aprilia 1m39.401s + 1.959s 18
22. Lorenzo Zanetti Aprilia 1m39.407s + 1.965s 18
23. Johann Zarco Aprilia 1m39.533s + 2.091s 18
24. Luis Salom Aprilia 1m40.342s + 2.900s 20
25. Jasper Iwema Honda 1m40.382s + 2.940s 21
26. Lorenzo Savadori Aprilia 1m40.456s + 3.014s 20
27. Cameron Beaubier KTM 1m40.509s + 3.067s 17
28. Alexis Masbou Loncin 1m41.086s + 3.644s 15
29. Karel Pesek Derbi 1m41.129s + 3.687s 20
30. James Lodge Honda 1m41.571s + 4.129s 19
31. Martin Glossop Honda 1m41.778s + 4.336s 20
32. Lukas Sembera Aprilia 1m42.080s + 4.638s 19
33. Luca Marconi Aprilia 1m42.426s + 4.984s 10
34. Tim Hastings Honda 1m42.473s + 5.031s 19
35. Paul Jordan Honda 1m43.393s + 5.951s 16
36. Luca Vitali Aprilia 1m45.081s + 7.639s 4

Exclusive Danny Webb Interview

125brits.com nicked a few minutes with Danny Webb this morning to chat with him ahead of his home race about his season so far, his team, and his handlebar bashing with another 125Brit, Scott Redding....


How’s the season gone so far?
It’s been difficult. We’ve had quite a few problems with crashed and injuries. We’ve had some bad luck but things are coming better... Sachsenring was okay - so onwards and upwards.
So now we’re here at my home race and we want to just bring in some valuable points; not put to much pressure on ourselves, and see how it goes.

How are your injuries now?
Basically alright. Just aches and pains, my back and that kind of stuff; but I think it won’t be a problem when we get on the bike and it’ll be okay.

It’s your home GP - what do you expect, or what can you hope for?
Hopefully one of us can repeat what Scott did last year. Hopefully it can come good on the day and if we have a good set up then we can be on the podium, but it’s really about just getting there and if we haven’t got the setup then maybe it’s just a top ten position - and that’d be good for us. But I think if we do have a perfect setup then we can be on the podium.

What about the rest of the season?
It’s just a question of working with the team and working with the bike... this bike’s been really hard to work with. Okay, now we’ve got a decent base setting but at the beginning of the season we didn’t really know where we were with the bike. Now we seem to be getting somewhere, and through the season - round by round we seem to be getting better with the bike.

How are things with the team in this, your second season with them?
We get on like a big family; we have our ups and downs and that, but we’re close - I’m close with my mechanics and technicians and for me - every team I go into, within a month or two I know them and I get on with them and that’s good. And with this team I know them and it’s really good.

How about next year? Will you still be with this team?
At the moment nothing’s for sure. We’re talking to a few other teams, but I’d like to stay with this team because I get on with them so well, but if I have to go with another team then I have to go - it’s one of those things. But we’ll see...

How about friends? Do you get on with Scott and Bradley? Do you see them on race weekends or at other times?
Me and Scott get along really well. I don’t really talk to Bradley that much - but Scott’s been at my house the past couple of weeks and we’ve been having some fun and training and meeting up with girls and stuff. Scott’s a good guy. he’s got a lot of talent, but he needs some luck with his bike - things haven’t been going so well for him this year; it’s more the bike than him.
Hopefully me and Scott can grow up together, and be in the MotoGP paddock and still be together there and still be great friends.

How is it racing with him on track - racing a friend?
Normally, 5 times out of 10 me and Scott will find each other in the race. But that doesn’t matter - when we’re on track we just treat each other like everyone else and when we come off track we’re best of friends. Whatever happens on track stays on the track, and whatever happens in the paddock stays in the paddock.
We’re really close but it’s not like a thing where we give each other loads of room on the track; we’ll still bash handlebars.
It’s like when we have fun on scooters, and if we race on scooters we’ll still bash handlebars then and when we do it on track it’s more a fun kind of thing then - not aggressive, but a fun kind of thing.


Many thanks Danny - Very kind. Big best of luck to you for the home GP and the rest of the season :-)

Danny Webb Can't Escape Us

No getaway! It's a valiant attempt at an escape, but we caught Danny nonetheless and got a few words out of him for 125Brits.com - we'll hope to have them online soon...

Bradders Talks Training

With preseason and the season itself we're talking about ten months of intense activity. Do you have a long-term training plan?
In preseason I do basic training, in other words long but intense continuous sessions with a low but progressive heart rate. Normally when we start competing in April or March I'm still not at 100%. It is a long season and you have to find a level that won't leave you too tired over the final races, which are demanding because of the travelling and the conditions. So basically I step up the intensity through the season up to August. Then I have a rest to make sure I look after myself and make it to the end of the season in the best shape possible. June, July and August are the months where I hit my peak and I maintain that to the end of the season.
 
Do you do any kind of specific training during a Grand Prix weekend?      
To be honest no, although I usually train the same for the first three days of a Grand Prix week as I do in a normal week. For example on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I do swimming, cycling and running and then when I get to a circuit on a Thursday I do a few laps of the track either on my pushbike or on foot. Obviously the intensity is much lower because you're trying to save energy for the weekend but I don't stop training altogether. Once the Grand Prix gets started, I spend fifteen minutes maximum warming up on a stationary bike before each practice and the race. I also do ten minutes as a warm down after the race to loosen and stretch the muscles. I also eat recovery food and hydrate a lot. It is very important to recover quickly, especially when you have back-to-back races, and to keep your immune system strong to avoid any kind of illness or infection that could affect performance.
           
Do you need a special diet to go along with your training programme?
My personal trainer takes charge of everything to do with training, nutrition and of course rest. I also have a sponsor that provides me with all the supplements I need for my programme. At home I have quite a strange diet because on one hand I need enough energy to train but at the same time I have to be careful not to get too heavy for a 125. I don't eat any junk food and not much red meat - it's mainly white meat, fish and salads as well as carbohydrates like pasta. I rarely take in more than 2500 calories a day.
 
How and when did you meet your personal trainer?
We met at the end of 2007. It was the end of my time with the Repsol team and a friend recommended that I go and see Mark and after talking to him for five minutes I knew he had to train me. He has the experience and knowledge to turn me into a true athlete. He competes in a lot of triathlons and Ironman contests, which is a long-distance triathlon. It was a little bit tricky at the start for him to understand the dynamics of a motorcycle racer. Basically his training method is based around the prevention of illness and injury. If you train too hard you can tire yourself out and you have to stop, which hinders your development. If you train constantly at 80% your physical fitness will constantly increase. Personally I think every rider should have a personal trainer to organise their training, nutrition, etc. As a rider this is my job and I have to work constantly on achieving the maximum I can - it is my responsibility to my sponsors and to myself.
 
It sounds like the triathlon forms the basis of your training...?
Yes, I love all three disciplines and it's also a good way to completely disconnect from MotoGP. Between January and November I spend a lot of time riding motorcycles and even though we're not racing every weekend it is a long season. Triathlon is kind of an escape route for me and it came into my life thanks to Mark. It's wonderful sport, full of optimism, where everybody enjoys themselves a lot in the races and where you can be competitive at any level. To race in 125s the only training I do other than cycling, running and swimming is core training and stretching. When you're on the bike you need a strong core and arms to put up with the stress and the weight transfer. I spend an hour, two or three times a week, using a basic gym ball. Working with Mark we try to replicate the positions I get into on the bike. Occasionally I ride motocross or supermoto but during the season I do enough riding at the GPs.
 
I suppose the British weather has an effect on your training?
This year was the first time I spent a long time out of England to train and I think it worked out really well. At the beginning of winter I spent six weeks in Barcelona and in all that time it rained three or four times, whilst in England if you're lucky you get three or four days of sunshine! We get wind, snow and even hail and it is difficult to train, as well as being dangerous, whilst in Barcelona I was able to make the most of those six weeks and train in safety. Next winter I'll be back in Spain for my preseason training but I'd also like to try cross-country skiing - we just have to work out where.
 
Do you ever take time out for a break?
Yeah of course - usually once a week or every fortnight I take a day out to completely relax, recover and recharge my batteries. But I don't like to be doing nothing - I like to be busy all the time.
 
What about holidays?
Not during the season. If I go on holiday it's at the end of the year with the family, in November or December. I take a week off over Christmas doing absolutely nothing and allowing myself some of the 'sins' I miss out on the rest of the year. But I still spend 50 or 51 weeks of the year concentrating on my training and absolutely dedicated to racing motorcycles.
 
Do you think so much preparation is necessary or is it just part of your winning character?
I always want to be at the maximum level that my body and mind will allow, I am a very competitive person. As far as racing is concerned, I don't want my body to ever get in the way of me winning. I don't ever want to feel like I could have done better in a race if only I was a bit fitter. In 125 perhaps so much training isn't necessary but my attitude is to do everything I can to win. Suffering through training is fundamental for me and I think you need to suffer to maintain your hunger and a winning mentality.
 
How do you deal with the jetlag in Australia, the heat in Malaysia and racing at night in Qatar?
For Qatar I started incorporating training sessions at 8pm for a couple of weeks before the race, so I am used to being active at a time that is normally reserved for rest. For Malaysia I train inside a cabin that has heat and humidity control. It is a bit like a sauna but not as hot and you can regulate the temperature. As far as jetlag is concerned there's not much you can do about it - if you start to feel it I think the best option is not to worry about it and just sit up in bed reading or watching television. If I get tired during the day I try and have a little nap if I can. Jetlag is something you can't predict so I suppose the only way to fight it is to stay awake and get tired!


Source: Aspar Media

British GP, Donington - BBC TV Schedule

If you're not at Donington this weekend to follow the progress of our Brit Boys (maybe another blinding race by Scott? Or maybe Bradley getting fully back into his stride after Germany?), then be sure you don't miss the coverage on the BBC...


Saturday 25 July

Qualifying
1250-1600, BBC Red Button/online

.............................................................


Sunday 26 July

125 and 250cc race
1220-1435, BBC Red Button/online

Race
1500-1630, BBC One/online

MotoGP Extra
1630-1700, BBC Red Button/online

.............................................................

Bradley Reflects On Disappointing German GP

"It seems like I shouldn't have got out of bed this morning. It is disappointing that I had such a good weekend end like this, but I think that the warmup crash affected us. I don't think that the front tyre had got up to temperature. That's why I got the feeling that I was running off track at every corner. The first crash was a blow to morale, and the second was a hit from behind that I couldn't do anything about. We just have to move on and concentrate on the next race in Donington, making sure that we are ready to regain points."

German GP, Sachsenring - 125cc - Results

Pos | Rider | Bike | Time
1. Julian Simon Aprilia 39m57.337s
2. Sergio Gadea Aprilia + 9.415s
3. Joan Olive Derbi + 17.559s
4. Nicolas Terol Aprilia + 17.587s
5. Pol Espargaro Derbi + 19.740s
6. Sandro Cortese Derbi + 20.778s
7. Andrea Iannone Aprilia + 20.908s
8. Daniel Webb Aprilia + 38.221s
9. D.Agerter Derbi + 38.434s
10. Tomoyoshi Koyama Loncin + 40.085s
11. R.Krummenacher Aprilia + 44.127s
12. Marcel Schrotter Honda + 45.051s
13. Luis Salom Aprilia + 59.604s
14. Cameron Beaubier KTM +1m18.157s
15. D.Kartheininger Honda +1m20.825s
16. Marc Marquez KTM +1m25.137s
17. Efren Vazquez Derbi +1m30.427s
18. Lukas Sembera Aprilia +1m30.528s
19. Jasper Iwema Honda + 1 lap
20. Lorenzo Savadori Aprilia + 1 lap
21. T.Finsterbusch Honda + 1 lap
22. Damien Raemy Honda + 1 lap
23. Johann Zarco Aprilia + 1 lap
24. Luca Marconi Aprilia + 1 lap

NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:

Rider | Bike | Laps
Scott Redding Aprilia 19
Stefan Bradl Aprilia 18
Takaaki Nakagami Aprilia 17
Simone Corsi Aprilia 16
Jonas Folger Aprilia 15
Michael Ranseder Aprilia 8
Lorenzo Zanetti Aprilia 6
Eeki Kuparinen Honda 3
Bradley Smith Aprilia 3
Esteve Rabat Aprilia 1
Alexis Masbou Loncin 1

FASTEST LAP:
Gadea, 1m28.337s on lap 6