In the latest of his Crash.net columns, brought to you by Mitsubishi Motors UK, Bradley Smith looks back on a best yet second place in Sunday's 125cc French Grand Prix at Le Mans...

That second place at Le Mans felt almost as good as a win. When I finished on the podium at Jerez earlier in the season I was not particularly happy but this second place was very different for me and the team.

I was given a second chance after the first race was stopped because of the rain and I was determined not to spoil it. I'd messed up the start in the first race despite starting from the front row. The race was scheduled to run for 24 laps which is a long way and I knew I had both the pace and the time to catch the leading bunch.

I did catch that leading group but I was having problems with the front brake and it was getting worse when the red flag came out to stop the race because of the rain. Half of me was pleased and half of me was not because I'd worked so hard to catch the leaders but was still down in ninth place.

The race was now going to be run over just five laps and I was happy in the break before we went back out on the circuit when the rain started to pour down rather than just drizzle. It meant there were no worries about tyre choice and I could concentrate on the five laps. In such a short space of time there was no room for any mistakes and I had to make a good start from the third row of the grid with grid positions being decided how you finished in the race that had been stopped.

I made a far better start than my attempts in the first race and after a couple of passes I took the lead which came as a bit of a surprise. It was not such a great surprise when Mike di Meglio went by. A French rider who's good in the wet being cheered on by 75,000 loud French fans. Part of me wanted to push really hard with my first ever grand prix victory so close. The other part told me to make sure that I finished the race after the crashes in Portugal and China.

I pushed as hard as I could feeling confident in the conditions and I kept him honest at the front by staying with him but he made no mistakes. The team hung out a pit board that simply said 2nd OK just to re-assure me. They know just how much I want to win but also we all knew just how important it was to score 20 world championship points and restore the confidence.

I'd been concentrating so hard that it was only on the last couple of bends and especially that double right hander that brings you onto the start and finish straight, that I felt very tentative about keeping the bike upright. I was mega-chuffed when I crossed the line and so were the team. They had just been waiting for this moment and they never had any doubts it was going to happen. It just took a little bit longer than any of us thought it would.

That's a third and second place this season and so there is only one way to go. Last year I finished third at Le Mans but then struggled at the next round at Mugello in Italy. It's not any easy race track but I think it should suit my Aprilia. I have real confidence in the bike and we sorted out a couple of problems in Le Mans. Practice and qualifying went well apart from a silly crash in the warm up on Sunday morning.

We have now reached the most important part of the season with four races in five weeks. I moved up a couple of places in the championship and I must continue that progress until the summer break after the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring. The races so far have been a bit hit and miss with the weather so let's hope for plenty of sunshine when we reach Mugello in Italy in just over a week's time.

Between the races in France and Italy I'm on route to the Pyrenees for some serious cycle training up and down the mountain roads. My Dad is driving me down there and is coming out with me and a friend on the tough uphill rides. What he's not told many people is he's following us on a scooter and is not relying on peddle power. I've blown his cover.

See you in a couple of weeks, hopefully after another good result in Italy.

Bradley

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