BBC Sportmotorsport

Saturday's crash made Smith's display all the more impressive

Bradley Smith was leading going into the final lap before having to settle for a fifth-place finish in a thrilling Italian 125cc Grand Prix at Mugello.

The 17-year-old was lucky to be racing at all after breaking a toe and suffering bruising to his hands in a heavy fall in qualifying.

He started from seventh on the grid and at one point looked on course for the first win of his career.

But Simone Corsi came home first, ahead of Gabor Talmacsi and Pol Espargaro.

"I broke my little toe, but that wasn't the problem, it was the big slap on the wrist," said Smith afterwards.

"My fingers were definitely bruised and my hand was swollen so it makes it difficult to twist and move around, but I'll get the doctor on it and I'm looking forward to the next race in Barcelona now."

Other British riders Scott Redding and Danny Webb came home 14th and 15th.

Italian 125cc Grand Prix result:

1 S Corsi (It) Aprilia 39mins 59.020secs
2 G Talmacsi (Hun) Aprilia 39:59.039
3 P Espargaro (Sp) Derbi 39:59.056

5 B Smith (GB) Aprilia 39:59.198
14 S Redding (GB) Aprilia 40:22.221
15 D Webb (GB) Degraaf 40:23.460

125cc world championship standings:

1 S Corsi (It) Aprilia 87 points
2 M Di Meglio (Fr) Derbi 87
3 N Terol (Sp) Aprilia 75

Italian 250cc Grand Prix result

1 M Simoncelli (It) Gilera 40mins 19.910secs
2 A Debon (Sp) Aprilia 40:20.409
3 T Luthi (Swi) Aprilia 40:20.622

13 E Laverty (NI) Aprilia 41:07.332

250cc championship standings:

1 M Kallio (Fin) KTM 106 points
2 M Pasini (Ita) Aprilia 88
3 A Debon (Spn) Aprilia 79