Smith matches KTM's best of 2018

Bradley Smith matched KTM's best result of the season, and his best result of last year on the RC16, with tenth place in Sunday's German MotoGP.

The Englishman almost doubled his season points as he finished a safe distance between Tech3 Yamaha riders Johann Zarco and Hafizh Syahrin.

Smith matches KTM's best of 2018

Bradley Smith matched KTM's best result of the season, and his best result of last year on the RC16, with tenth place in Sunday's German MotoGP.

The Englishman almost doubled his season points as he finished a safe distance between Tech3 Yamaha riders Johann Zarco and Hafizh Syahrin.

Crossing the line 21.4s from race winner Marc Marquez, Smith equalled the tenth place by wild-card Mika Kallio at Jerez this year.

"It was nice to be able to get the result that we knew was there and we’ve had that potential all season," Smith said.

"For some reason or another Sundays have been the disappointing days, particularly in Assen two weeks ago where I felt I could have done a similar job as today. We have to be happy and we worked hard all weekend. 

"I was able to hold with Pedrosa and Zarco for a long time and regrouped after a small mistake. I could then pull away from Hafizh and bring home some good points; six in fact after only scoring seven all season. 

"I knew I could put in that type of performance but for some reason on Sundays something was always amiss: mistakes or being knocked-into or tyre problems. 

"I just had to keep on bashing my head against the wall and knew at some point it would all come together and it’s nice it was before the summer break so we can have two weeks of having a clear mind and ready to start part two."

Smith, who already knows he will leave KTM at the end of this season, credited electronic work as helping to preserve tyre life.

 "I was working all weekend with the electronics," he said. "It was a really important thing that I thought would be necessary for the race. 

"Once I was behind Dani [Pedrosa] I could see that he was saving the tyre quite a lot and that reminded me to also go to the softer switches I had and to look after the tyre the best I could. 

"I think it was Iannone who was catching me at one point in the race so I passed Hafizh and put my head down for 6-7 laps and pulled the gap. 

"In the final five laps I had no tyre left but I think that was similar to everybody. I think we played it right and it means our electronic guys are doing a fantastic job. 

"We’re getting our head around these things and figuring it out."

Team-mate Pol Espargaro, fastest in morning warm-up, failed to finish the race after causing a pile-up at turn three.

Meanwhile Smith enjoyed another strong first lap, rising from 16th to 10th.

"I start good and at this moment I have nothing to lose," Smith said. "I’m not looking at anyone in the first corner. I know where I want to go and everything is very clear in my mind and I know the best place to attack is in the first lap. 

"It is harder to pass anyone in the race when they are all up to race pace, so logical thinking means the best way to attack is when everyone is hesitating and give them no chance to fight back. It is a case of risk versus reward."

Smith now has 13 points compared with 32 for Espargaro, who will partner new signing Zarco at KTM next season.

The #38 has suggested he will retire if he can't find an alternative MotoGP ride next year, but is keen to remain in the paddock in some capacity and thought to be considering test riding duties in 2019. 

KTM's own test program has been thrown into doubt by Mika Kallio's knee injury at Sachsenring, for which the Finn will require surgery.

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