BRADLEY Smith is gunning for another fine performance as he bids to finish as the top satellite rider in successive races for the first time in ten months.

The 25-year-old, from Forest Hill, enjoyed his best result of the season by coming seventh in the Italian MotoGP at Mugello a fortnight ago.

A strong show at the Circuit de Barcelona in Catalunya tomorrow could again see him claim the tag of top independent rider – behind only those on better-funded factory bikes.

It would be the first time Smith has achieved such a feat back-to-back since August 2015 at the Indianapolis and Czech Republic GPs.

After a disappointing start to 2016, when issues adapting to the new Michelin tyres saw him collect 28 points fewer in the first six rounds of the season compared to last year, Smith is hoping Mugello is the start of a good run of results.

“As always, I am confident of hitting the ground running in Barcelona and I am certain I can carry on the positive momentum from the last GP,” said Smith.

“Last year I finished as the leading satellite rider in fifth.

“The result may be a bit more difficult to achieve this year because the level of competition has risen, but I will still give it everything I’ve got to score a solid position.

“It may have taken me a bit longer than some other riders to adapt to the tyres, but we have made the step and I can now get the results I want and need.

“This weekend I will be gunning for the top independent team position and I know Pol (Espargaro) will be strong, so I’ll do my best to beat him at his home GP.”

The pair will remain as teammates next year after it was confirmed Espargaro is joining Smith at KTM.

The Oxfordshire rider has plenty of work to do today if he is to finish ahead of the Spaniard in the race.

He was well off the pace in yesterday’s practice session, finishing a sluggish 16th and 21st.

Oxfordshire rider Smith signed for the premier class’s newest factory team in March and just hours after Yamaha announced the Spaniard would leave at the end of the year, the deal with KTM was confirmed.

Elsewhere it was announced this week Smith would not ride in July’s Suzuka 8 Hours to defend the title he won in 2015.

Yamaha have confirmed Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Espargaro and Alex Lowes as their three-man line-up.

But Smith will take part in this year’s Bikers Classic event at Spa in Belgium from July 1-3.

Celebrating more than 40 years of MotoGP history, he will ride a Yamaha ROC YZR-500 which was formerly Belgium’s Laurent Naveau, in 1993.