Motorcycling: Smith's great start claims first 125cc win at the age of 18

Britain's Bradley Smith took his first 125cc grand prix win when he triumphed in Jerez, Spain, yesterday.

The 18-year-old Aprilia rider from Oxford, now just a point behind Italian Andrea Iannone in the world championship standings, made a great start from second place and took the chequered flag by 13 seconds from Spanish team-mate Sergio Gadea.

Until last year, when a 15-year-old Scott Redding won his home 125cc grand prix at Donington Park, Britain had not provided a winner in the category since Chas Mortimer won in Spain in 1973.

Also in Jerez, Valentino Rossi claimed MotoGP victory to go 11 points clear at the top of the standings. Rossi crossed the finishing line 2.7sec ahead of Dani Pedrosa, with Casey Stoner completing the podium places in third. Jorge Lorenzo, on pole, crashed out with three laps to go while placed fourth.