In the doping case which concerns Andrea Iannone, there has not yet been a verdict strictly speaking, but there are trends and comments which are unmistakable: Aprilia will have to do without its Italian. A godsend for Bradley Smith, Noale's test pilot, who is thus offered an unexpected second chance. As for Dorna, she doesn't mind seeing an Englishman arrive...
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini perhaps did not suspect it, but is lucky to have a Bradley Smith 29 years old as a test rider who has experience in MotoGP. Recently, the Englishman has been looked at in a better light, since exactly the moment when the FIM suspended the license of its titular driver Andrea Iannone for suspicion of doping. The Italian is to this day still suspected of having used prohibited products, but it is becoming increasingly clear that the Aprilia sporting director Massimo rivola expects that Iannone is unavailable for a certain period of time…
The same Rivola no longer hide that he will put Bradley Smith first line in the case where the analysis of sample B of Iannone confirms the results of his predecessor A. In this type of case, this is what always happens... However, the verdict is expected by the end of this week.
Smith holder, it is Lorenzo Savadori which could be used as a tester. Savadori was an Aprilia factory rider in the World Superbike Championship as long as Noale's program in that category was in effect.
A situation that does not displease Dorna. A second Englishman on the starting grid alongside Cal Crutchlow would be a godsend, particularly for its TV contract with BT Sport, not to mention potentially increased attendance at the Grand Prix taking place at Silverstone.
Bradley Smith celebrated three 125cc Grand Prix victories in 3 and 2009. He then competed in the Moto2010 World Championship at Tech3 with the Mistral 610 in 2011 and 2012 and took three podiums. The 29-year-old English driver rode for the team Tech3-Yamaha in the MotoGP World Championship for four years, and he reached two podiums (2nd place at Misano 2015 and 3rd place at Phillip Island 2014).
He then signed for Red Bull–KTM for two years and achieved four tenth places on the KTM RC16: 2017 at Misano and Phillip Island, 2018 at Sachsenring and Phillip Island. He then said goodbye to KTM at the rain-affected race in Valencia in 2018 with an eighth place finish. He had to leave his place to Johann zarco and he was hired as a test rider at Aprilia.
In addition to MotoGP races, Smith played in the World Cup MotoE for Petronas' One Energy team in 2019. He finished third overall.
