Oxfordshire schoolboy Bradley Smith (pictured) secured his first Grand Prix top-ten finish at the Motegi circuit in Japan on Sunday.

The 15-year-old, who attends Wheatley Park School, came a superb eighth in the 125cc class on his Repsol Honda.

Smith had started the race from ninth on the grid and was as high as seventh before losing a place on the final lap.

He admitted to losing seventh place by making a mistake during a battle with Japanese rider Tomoyoshi Koyama.

After the race, Smith, who returns to school straight after getting back to England, said: "The team told me it was just inexperience that kept me out of seventh place after I swapped positions with Koyama a couple of times on the last lap.

"I made a mistake, but still thought I might be able to pass him on the last bend, but it did not quite work.

"It was a great result, especially after the slow start on Friday morning in practice.

"But it's back to school on Wednesday."