BRADLEY Smith has plenty of ground to make up today after struggling to get to grips with the Mugello circuit.

The MotoGP rider, from Forest Hill, was 23rd out of the 24-strong field on his Red Bull KTM in both practice sessions yesterday ahead of for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix.

Smith has a good record at the track, where he won a 125cc race in 2009 and claimed a Moto2 podium two years later.

But he will need to make strides in the two sessions ahead of qualifying today to improve his encouraging return of three points finishes from the last four outings.

The 26-year-old was more than three seconds off the pace of Andrea Dovizioso’s quickest lap in the first session, with only Sylvain Guintoli below him.

In the second session Smith brought the gap to the front, set by fellow Briton Cal Crutchlow, by almost a second.

But he was again only quicker than Guintoli, with KTM teammate Pol Esp- argaro just over a tenth of a second faster.