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Motorcycling ace Bradley Smith has sent a big ‘thank you’ to everybody who helped him prepare for the season on his recent trip to Bahrain as he settles down to the serious business of testing in Malaysia.
This week the 22-year-old from the English university city of Oxford is preparing for the second MotoGP test of the season in Sepang on February 26-28, after riding a Yamaha R1 on two special track days at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) before competing in Round Two of the Qatar International Championship at the Losail Circuit.
It was a ‘tremendous experience’ for three-times-grand-prix-winner Bradley who hopes to return to the Middle East next year to help local riders and increase the interest in MotoGP.
“It was an amazing trip and everybody made me welcome. They were so helpful,” explained Bradley, who travels to Qatar to make his MotoGP debut on April 7, riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha.
“There was tremendous interest in MotoGP and I want to keep going every year to help bring on the riders who came to the track days and to promote the sport. Hopefully, we can expand it next year to also ride in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“I visited St Christopher’s School in Bahrain to tell them about MotoGP and answer questions. Looking at the internet afterwards I realised just how interested the children were in the sport.
“All-in-all, it was a great experience and the ideal preparation for the most important season of my career.”
Bradley made special mention of the BIC’s team, the Bahrain Motorsport Federation, the Bahrain Olympic Committee, alongside companies and individuals including mechanics John Beddall and Brian Oakley, Gaffar Al Bastaki, customs & logistics, Martin Whitaker, MD of Sportique88, Tim Attwood and Yousif Al Mahdi, for parts and co-ordination, and AJM Al Kooheji, Yamaha’s dealer.
The rookie has already completed a three-day test and did well, finishing eighth overall, less than two seconds off first place, less than one second behind third-placed veteran Valentino Rossi and more importantly, as a benchmark, half a second off his team mate Cal Crutchlow, who came in fifth and has been in the full GP class for three years.
“Not bad for his first time on the bike,” a leading race commentator told GulfWeekly.
