Britain’s top grand prix rider, 16 year old Bradley Smith, takes you on a fast lap of the 2.50 Donington Park Circuit that will host the Nickel & Dime British Grand Prix on Sunday 24 June. The Oxfordshire schoolboy racer will be aboard a Repsol Honda in the 125 cc World Championship race at the famous Leicestershire parkland circuit that staged its first Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1987.
Smith is the youngest British rider ever to finish on a grand prix podium after his third place at the recent French Grand Prix.
Join him now, for what he hopes will be a winning ride in his home event:
“A good start is important because the first corner at Reigate is fast and you must be with the leading pack and not get left in the pack.
Redgate:On a 125 cc bike you take the right hander at Redgate in sixth gear and it’s probably the second fastest part of the track. It’s a difficult corner with quite a few bumps going in and you must not tip the bike in too early because of the late apex. It’s a good bend for overtaking but you must be careful.
Craner Curves:You approach Caner Curves through Hollywood and it’s difficult to overtake there because you are flat out and it’s a little bit dangerous because of the change of direction.
Old Hairpin:It’s always a bit scary on the brakes because of the downhill approach and you have to change direction quickly. You must be careful not to lose the front end. You then race under Starkey’s Bridge where there is always a good crowd on the bank, through Schwantz and towards McLean’s.
McLean’s:It’s a blind crest into the right hander and you have to be careful because once over the crest it drops away to the left. It’s an easy place to highside, especially in the wet.
Coppice:
Another blind crest right hander. People say it’s slippery because of fuel dropped by aircraft going into East Midlands Airport but I’ve never found that and treat it like a normal corner.
Dunlop Bridge:Another good crowd of fans on the bank on the right hand side. On a 125 cc machine you don’t pull any wheelies like the MotoGP riders and it’s pretty straight forward. You go through the speed trap on the back straight and check just how fast your bike is going.
Fogarty Esses:It’s more like a wide open chicane but you have to be careful because the track narrows and you don’t want to run onto the grass.
Melbourne Hairpin:A really tricky braking point because it’s downhill and you have to brake so late. There is a lot for the rider to contend with because you have to stop the bike to almost a 180’ right turn. You must be so careful not to lose the front end because at such an angle it’s very easy to slip off. Depending on your gearing, sometimes on a 125 you have to slip the clutch coming out up the hill.
Goddards:The final corner and so it’s do or die on the final lap. If you are with another rider you must get good drive out of Melbourne because this is your last chance for overtaking. You have to be brave but also remember its bumpy coming out and there have been quite a few crashes both front and rear.
Its then head down, fully tucked in behind the screen to the chequered flag. Check your lap times and hopefully take the victory.”
Related News
