Oxfordshire's Bradley Smith secured a top-ten finish in the season-opening Qatar MotoGP.
The 24-year-old from Forest Hill, near Oxford, who started seventh on the grid, ended up eighth, one place ahead of his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate, Pol Espargaro.
Reigning champion Marc Marquez made a disastrous start dropping from first to last.
The Spaniard stormed through to finish fifth, seven seconds behind the winner Valentino Rossi, on his Yamaha, with Andrea Dovizioso second and Andrea Iannone third.
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