By Julian Shea BBC Sport in Jerez

Smith's best finish last season was eighth place in Japan

Bradley Smith says he will devote all his efforts to competing in the 125cc world championship this year - despite having GCSEs to contend with as well.

The 16-year-old Repsol Honda rider was named the 125cc rookie of the year last year but said he was taking nothing for granted this season.

"If this year turns out to be alright maybe I've got a future in racing," the Oxfordshire teenager told BBC Sport.

"But if not then I've got to do more at school so we'll have to wait and see."

Interview: Bradley Smith

Smith made a big impression in his debut season on the MotoGP circuit, finishing the season in joint 19th place.

And he said that once the new season began in Qatar this weekend, his on-going education on the track would be his number one priority - although not at the cost of his classroom education.

"Racing is my 100% concentration for this year," he said.

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"Not that my GCSEs are going by the wayside, though - I'm still accomplishing all the targets I need to, school is really good about it and I couldn't have asked for more support from them.

"What I accomplished last year was what I set out to do so I'm really pleased about that - you learn without even thinking about it. I'm aiming higher this year, I want to start higher up the grid."

Smith is not the only Briton in the category - Kent's Danny Webb will be racing for the Arie Molenaar Racing team - but after last year's impressive debut, he is the one who will be spotlight.

Not that the level-headed teenager is letting the expectation get to him, though.

If Smith carries on progressing as he has so far and fulfils his early potential, then handling pressure could be something he has to get used to.

And Repsol Honda's reputation for developing young talent suggests Smith is in the right place.

"We won rookie of the year in all three classes," he said.

"Me at 125cc, Hiroshi Aoyama at 250cc and Dani Pedrosa in MotoGP, and Nicky Hayden is the world champion too - that's an amazing year."