Bradley Smith endured a disappointing debut in ♎Qatar after the Tech 3 Yamaha rider crashed unhurt on the fifth lap.

Smith had been lying in 11th place when he went down at corner seven, bringing his maiden race in the MotoG💫P class to an unceremonious conclusion at Losail.

The Brito𒊎n had made a lightning start off the line, passing Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez to move into the top six.

However,♚ as Smith attempted to settle 🐻into a rhythm, he lost the front of his M1.

"It is frustrating to crash oꦕut of my first MotoGP race so early because I need𒀰 to be gaining all the experience I can.

"We changed the bike for tonight and the bike was much better on corner entr✨y," said Smith, who qualified in ninth position.

"Unfortunately I lost the front at Turn 7 and I was down. I'd had a couple of warnings and I will know for the future that I am close to the limit w🐬hen that happens."

Smith will focus on the positives of a sa♋tisfying qualifying pe🥃rformance as he now looks ahead to the second race in Austin Texas, in two weeks' time.

"There are a loღt more positives than negatives to come out of this weekend but I can't deny it would have been great to start the year with a top 10 finish," he said.

"We move onto the next race in Austin where the goal again will be to build up my experience and lear꧟n more about the bike.💜"

Tech 3 team manager, Herve Poncharal, said that although Smith's accident was a blow, he remains confiꦛdent the British rider will become a regular top 10 finisher this season.

"It was a big shame for Bradley because it🌜 would have been good to start the championship inside the top 10," he said.

"He really could have picked up a lot of information t♛o get more experience to learn from, but these things can happen and the crash shouldn't detract fr🃏om the fact that he had a very encouraging weekend that bodes well for the future.

"We a💖re looking forward to seeing his development during the next race🦋s but I've no doubt he is going to be regular inside the top 10."