BRADLEY Smith produced his best result for two years in his final MotoGP race for the Red Bull KTM team in Valencia yesterday.

The Oxfordshire rider came home in eighth place, defying the wet conditions which forced many to crash.

Smith had to start from the back row of the grid after a technical issue in qualifying.

He had climbed to sixth in the race, when a crash at turn 13 saw him forced to push his bike back to the pit lane and, after a red flag, he was able to restart in 16th place.

He then climbed back to eighth to secure his best finish of the season.

On a good day for the KTM team, Smith’s teammate Pol Espargaro came home third.

“Some things are just meant to be,” he said.

“I was pushing back to get to bike No 2 just to finish the race because there was only 15 guys at that point.

“It was obviously great for the team today.

“I’m happy I go out on my ‘high’ this was my best result. I cannot ask for much more.”