Rookie Smith's Le Mans lift - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Rookie Smith's Le Mans lift

Teenagger Bradley Smith has his sights set on a first win today after qualifying on the front row for the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

Smith finished second behind Italy's Mattia Pasini in one minute 43.569 seconds on the Repsol Honda motorcycle as he completed his best ever qualifying session.

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With a best race finish of eighth and a previous top qualifying position of fifth, the 16-year-old from Oxfordshire is on course to have his best 125cc race in only his second full season.

"Starting from the front row is obviously a big advantage and if I can make a similar start to the race in China I have a great chance of a really good result," said Smith.

Fellow Briton Danny Webb, from Kent, was 31st on the De Graaf Honda.

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