In his latest column for Crash.net, Bradley Smith reflects on the final round of the 125cc World Championship at Valencia - which ended with team-mate and world champion Julian Simon snatching victory from him for the third race in a row...I thought I'd sorted Julian this time going into last lap in Valencia but it finished with another big dose of deja vu and second place but I'm learning all the time. Apart from not winning it was a great weekend in Valencia especially with the announcement by the Aspar team that I will be staying with them to contest the 2010 125cc World Championship.
I'm very lucky in these tough economic times. I'm 18 years old and all I have to do is concentrate my efforts into riding the bike and winning grands prix. I have a great team around me, a very competitive motor cycle to ride and already I can't wait for April 11 2010 and that first grand prix of the year under the floodlights in Qatar. Nico Terol, who finished third in the championship, will be my new team-mate and so there will be no let up in the rivalry within the team which is a good thing.
The weekend could have turned into a total disaster with a couple of marshals saving me during the warm-up lap before the race on Sunday. I was really caught out when I was running very slowly and put the bike into neutral. I popped it back into first to pull away and it stalled. The carburettor filled with fuel and despite the considerable efforts of the marshal with a big push the bike would not start. I was really panicking when a second marshal arrived to double the pushing power and to my relief the engine fired-up. I raced back just in time to get on the front row of the grid, the lights changed and we were off down towards turn one, with certainly no time to think!
The panic certainly paid off because I was first into turn one although I had Marc Marquez alongside which is always a little worrying. I managed to break away and after a couple of laps was two seconds in front of Julian Simon but I knew he would pull that back. Being in the same team as Julian can be an advantage because I could read his pit board as well as mine as I raced down the front straight and it told me he was coming.
I expected him to catch me and try and overtake but he dropped in behind and I realised that I had a better pace then him and had a big chance of winning. The strong winds had been a problem throughout the weekend and they really caught me out with a few laps remaining. Coming into the downhill right hand bend the wind was so gusty and lifted the front end of the bike and I was so lucky not to crash. From leading I was suddenly two seconds behind Julian but I managed to close right up again and for the third grand prix in a row it was coming down to the last lap.
I still thought I could beat him but as always where to make my move was going to decide the outcome. I first tried at that first right hander but ran wide after getting alongside him. I was not giving up and slipstreamed along the back straight and then pulled out of the slipstream only to realise on the fastest bend of the circuit I could not see where I was going. I just cut across the kerb moto-cross style and hoped I'd come out the other side which I did, leading the way but he dived underneath at the next bend and déjà vu I just could not pass on the last corner.
Of course I was disappointed. Second best once again is not a great feeling. It would have been great to have won three grands prix this year and at the home of my team in Valencia. On the positive front I've embarked on a crash course of both how to ride the final laps of grands prix and how to lead a race.
The experience will stand me in great stead when the battle starts next year. After the race we attended the FIM Awards in Valencia where I received my trophy for finishing runner-up in the World Championship. Next year I want to return to the ceremony on the top step to receive the world championship winning certificate but I'm under no illusions just how tough that will be.
Bradley
