BRADLEY Smith will be hoping for improvement as qualifying begins at the Qatar MotoGP today.

The 27-year-old, from Forest Hill, has embarked on his second season with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.

But Smith was just over two seconds off the pace as he set the 22nd fastest time during yesterday’s first practice session at the Losail International Circuit in Doha.

He was then 20th in the second session.

Smith will need to show improvement during this morning’s third practice in order to avoid having to go through the first round of qualifying where only the top two make it through to a 12-rider second session.