BRADLEY Smith claimed his 12th point of the MotoGP season as he came home 15th in Spain.

The 29-year-old from Forest Hill started from the back of the grid at Aragon.

But after a good start he looked set to climb through the field, before deterioration in his rear tyre.

He was the final rider to finish, but moved up the standings due to six retirements – including his Aprilia teammate Aleix Esparagaro.

Smith said: “My speed in the early laps was good and my tenth place on the list of fast laps proves that,

“But then, with the tyre deterioration, we were unable to maintain the pace.

“We know that this is one of our weak points and I hope that the data collected in these races will help the guys at Aprilia to improve the 2021 project.

“It’s frustrating to always run into the same difficulties, but we won’t give up.

“Down to the final race, we’ll work hard to improve.”

Yamaha rider Franco Morbidelli won the race.

The season continues in Valencia on November 8.