Oxfordshire's Bradley Smith bounced back to form in the Malaysian Grand Prix with a hard-fought ninth place in the 19-lap 125cc race.

The 16-year-old from Wheatley, pictured right, made a great start from the fourth row of the grid but then dropped back, hampered by the lack of top speed on his Repsol Honda.

He fought back to grab ninth in a dramatic last couple of energy-sapping laps.

"The start was great, but I just could not stay with the leaders who were picking me off on the long straights and I dropped back," he explained.

"I started to fight back and it was a good experience because I was overtaking at places I'd never thought of before. In one way it was a good result, but I'm off the leading group where I want to be."