Bradley Smith: “I Pushed Really Hard From The First Lap to Stay With The Front Group”

Bradley Smith, Repsol Honda: 6th.

“I pushed really hard from the first lap to stay with the front group. I passed Pasini in the first corner through the outside and then Koyama through the inside. I had made a really good start, looking forward to make a good race. It was much better than in Mugello during the first few laps and that’s something to be happy about. It’s been a shame because every time we got to the straight and I was in front of the group, they would pass me and I would fall back again. So it’s been very difficult for me to overtake them, because I lost a lot of time on the straights. I tried really hard to outbrake them but I made a mistake. I was just pushing too hard, trying to recover too much and when I lost the slipstream it was just impossible to stay in the group. I managed to catch them in twisty sections but as soon as we got on the straight off they went again. I’m happy because this sixth position is the best result of the season. I have to be happy for it and because I gave my very very best. I’m looking forward to the next three races, and I hope we’ll be able to make the bike be faster. ”

Tito Rabat, Repsol Honda: 12th.

“I made a very good start but there were lots of us together right after that and I fell back. The motorbike has worked well, not so the chassis. I lost a lot in the fast corners and the rear end made trouble when I opened the throttle. I did all I could, but my hand hurt a lot when braking. There’s nothing more I could do because it really hurt a lot. It’s been a whole bunch of things that did not allow us to do any better. In any case I want to thank the team for helping me. ”

Alexis Masbou, FFM Honda: 16th.

“I’m so angry not to collect at least one point for my team after the difficult week-end I just put them through! My Honda was working well, the tyre choice was good. For sure we made the bike setup in the warm-up and was lapping 1’53s, whilst I was in 1’52 during the race, which means the chassis setup wasn’t ideal. I didn’t catch a good pace at first but nevertheless gave it all I had, especially in the closing stages despite tyre wear under the scorching heat. I tried all I could to pass Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter, but things just didn’t work out! And yet I felt better mentally today. ” “I’m going to give it a good break before the next Grand Prix, first isolate myself for two days, try to forget everything and start my physical and mental training again to have the right approach for the British Grand Prix. I need to fight my way back and work for the future. I’m happy to race in Donington next, I like the track which has plenty of acceleration and braking ­ and I’m quite good at braking! ”

Mike Di Meglio, Kopron Scot Honda: 19th.

“I am very disappointed with my race today. We had a lot of detonation after just four- five laps and I just could not run with the fast group after that. It is very strange because we ran the same settings as in qualifying and the engine temperature was the same, it’s a mystery we will have to take a good look at the data to see what happened. ”

Danny Webb, Molenaar Honda: 26th.

“I got a so – so start and was in a group with Terol, Muresan, Hugo (Van den Berg) and a wild card rider. There were a couple of crashes in font of us on the first couple of laps so we wee held up a little. The engine was a little down on power today but I managed to cut 7/10ths of a second off my qualifying time so that was a positive. I couldn’t get out of the group and we had a good race. The wild card rider crashed out leaving the four of us. Finishing 26th is not a good result but I finished the race and learned a few things. ”

Joey Litjens, Molenaar Honda: dnf – crash

“I got my usual super start and passed a few riders but Ranseder did not he was trying too hard to catch up and hit me sending me off the track and out of the race. There is nothing else to say – I didn’t even get to complete one lap! ”

Dino Lombardi, Kopron Scot Honda: dns – due to injuries sustained in qualifying. Lombardi broke his left ankle.