BRADLEY Smith is hoping to make the most of being the sole rider in the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing garage at tomorrow’s Austrian MotoGP.

With Pol Espargaro and test rider Mika Kallio injured, the 27-year-old is left to fly the flag for the team in their home grand prix at the Red Bull Ring, Speilberg.

Smith revealed last week he would no longer consider retirment from the sport after losing his KTM rider for 2019.

And he is hoping a strong performance in Austria, which comes just a week after he was involved in a first-lap multi-rider collision in the Czech Republic, will catch the eye of future employers.

Smith, who set the 15th fastest time in yesterday morning’s first practice session, said: “It’s sad not to have my teammates next to me in our garage.

“I wish a speedy recovery to Pol and Mika.

“Within the pit box everyone can focus now on one guy and we‘ll try to get the best out of the KTM – I’m ready to race.”

Smith stayed at Brno following last weekend’s grand prix for a one-day test.

He was 13th fastest at the end of the session and pleased with the progress.

Smith said: “We took the chance to test some things that we’d tried at other tracks and that helps to widen our collection of data.

“We were going through the test items and overall it was a positive day.”