Smith had been linked with a move up to the new Moto2 series

Bradley Smith will step his preparations for the 125cc World Championship campaign with pre-season testing in Barcelona this week.

The Oxfordshire 19-year-old, who was last year's world championship runner-up, has taken part in fitness training in America ahead of the two day test.

"It's going to be tough to get back in the swing," said Smith.

"I will take it step by step. I'm sure we will have some parts to test and it will be nice to start up the Aprilia."

Last year Smith won two races and notched nine podium finishes on his way to second place in the world championship, behind Spain's Julian Simon, who has stepped up to the Moto2 class competition for 2010.

Smith, who will ride alongside Spain's Nico Terol for the Bancaja Aprilia team, will be one of the favourites to win the world title when the 2010 season kicks off in Qatar in April.

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