AFTER a tricky qualifying campaign, Oxfordshire’s Bradley Smith had to settle for 12th place in the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez.

The 25-year-old, from Forest Hill, near Oxford, started from the fifth row of the grid and while muscling his way around the track, was pushed back to 15th after the first lap.

But the Monster Yamaha Tech3 driver dug deep and rose to 12th by lap ten.

His progress continued and he opened a gap to the pack behind before powering to the end in this position.

Smith also lies 12th in the season’s standings.

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi led from the start to secure victory.