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Aoyama Congratulated By Prime Minister Of Japan

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:04:26 +0000

Recently crowned 250 World Champion Hiroshi Aoyama has received a personal message of congratulations from Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan. The full letter can be read below:

Mr. Hiroshi AOYAMA

We congratulate your World Champion title in FIM Road Racing World Championship.
We believe that the World champion title is the evidence of accumulation of your everyday effort
We also would like to congratulate very important persons, supporter, family, and team members.
Japanese athletes’ activities in the world will give a dream and hope to young generation in Japan.

We strongly wish your continuous success in your activity.

Yukio Hatoyama

The Prime Minister

Hiroshi Aoyama said of the honour:
“When I was told that I received a letter from the Prime Minister of Japan I couldn’t believe it. It’s a great honour and I’m very proud. Nowadays motorcycle sport is not so popular and I was really happy to know that the Prime Minister watched the race and wrote a letter addressed to me. I still haven’t realized that I won the World Championship and to receive such an important letter makes me realize the importance and the echo of this.”

Valencia 2009: 250cc Race Results

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:06:08 +0000

Hiroshi Aoyama takes the 250cc World Championship in a tense 250cc race whih saw Barbera win after Simoncelli crashed out from the lead.

Aoyama ran off the track in lap nine and dropped to eleventh position (Aoyama needed a finish of 11th or above to claim the title). Crashes from Di Meglio and Jules Cluzel helped Aoyama pick up a few places, but it was Simoncelli’s crash with 7 laps to go that assured Aoyama the title.

1. Hector Barbera Aprilia 44m10.601s
2. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia + 3.663s
3. Raffaele de Rosa Honda + 5.665s
4. Thomas Luthi Aprilia + 5.680s
5. Ratthapark Wilairot Honda + 13.601s
6. Karel Abraham Aprilia + 13.697s
7. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda + 27.438s
8. Alex Baldolini Aprilia + 35.097s
9. Roberto Locatelli Gilera + 35.866s
10. Shoya Tomizawa Honda + 40.176s
11. Shuhei Aoyama Honda + 49.095s
12. Lukas Pesek Aprilia + 53.132s
13. Balazs Nemeth Aprilia + 1m06.014s
14. Mike di Meglio Aprilia + 1m18.692s
15. Valentin Debise Honda + 1m18.876s
16. Bastien Chesaux Aprilia + 1 lap
17. Vladimir Leonov Aprilia + 1 lap
18. William Dunlop Honda + 1 lap
19. Imre Toth Aprilia + 1 lap

Retirements:

Jules Cluzel Aprilia 23 laps
Marco Simoncelli Gilera 20 laps
Axel Pons Aprilia 19 laps
Mattia Pasini Aprilia 11 laps
Hector Faubel Honda 7 laps

Valencia 2009: 250cc Qualifying Results

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:49:52 +0000

1. Alex Debon Aprilia 1m36.116s 20
2. Marco Simoncelli Gilera 1m36.450s + 0.334s 22
3. Hector Barbera Aprilia 1m36.470s + 0.354s 21
4. R.Wilairot Honda 1m36.563s + 0.447s 20
5. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda 1m36.656s + 0.540s 22
6. Thomas Luthi Aprilia 1m36.985s + 0.869s 23
7. Karel Abraham Aprilia 1m37.271s + 1.155s 22
8. Mattia Pasini Aprilia 1m37.278s + 1.162s 20
9. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 1m37.303s + 1.187s 22
10. Hector Faubel Honda 1m37.318s + 1.202s 21
11. Raffaele De Rosa Honda 1m37.365s + 1.249s 21
12. Alex Baldolini Aprilia 1m37.577s + 1.461s 21
13. Jules Cluzel Aprilia 1m37.749s + 1.633s 17
14. R.Locatelli Gilera 1m37.811s + 1.695s 22
15. Mike Di Meglio Aprilia 1m37.958s + 1.842s 15
16. Shoya Tomizawa Honda 1m38.085s + 1.969s 20
17. Axel Pons Aprilia 1m38.126s + 2.010s 21
18. Lukas Pesek Aprilia 1m38.291s + 2.175s 19
19. Balazs Nemeth Aprilia 1m38.737s + 2.621s 21
20. Shuhei Aoyama Honda 1m38.795s + 2.679s 19
21. Valentin Debise Honda 1m39.283s + 3.167s 16
22. Vladimir Leonov Aprilia 1m40.371s + 4.255s 19
23. Bastien Chesaux Aprilia 1m41.605s + 5.489s 13
24. Imre Toth Aprilia 1m42.418s + 6.302s 20
- William Dunlop Honda 1m42.906s + 6.790s 20

Valencia 2009: 250cc Practice Results (Friday)

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:38:22 +0000

1 40 Hector BARBERA SPA Pepe World Team Aprilia 1’36.185
2 6 Alex DEBON SPA Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens Aprilia 1’36.502
3 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Aprilia 1’36.866
4 4 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Scot Racing Team 250cc Honda 1’36.924
5 35 Raffaele DE ROSA ITA Scot Racing Team 250cc Honda 1’37.099
6 58 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA Metis Gilera Gilera 1’37.168
7 55 Hector FAUBEL SPA Honda SAG Honda 1’37.213
8 63 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc Aprilia 1’37.273
9 14 Ratthapark WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT SAG Honda 1’37.426
10 12 Thomas LUTHI SWI Emmi – Caffe Latte Aprilia 1’37.806
11 16 Jules CLUZEL FRA Matteoni Racing Aprilia 1’37.848
12 75 Mattia PASINI ITA Paddock GP Racing Team Aprilia 1’38.012
13 25 Alex BALDOLINI ITA WTR San Marino Team Aprilia 1’38.135
14 52 Lukas PESEK CZE Auto Kelly – CP Aprilia 1’38.282
15 48 Shoya TOMIZAWA JPN CIP Moto – GP250 Honda 1’38.286
16 7 Axel PONS SPA Pepe World Team Aprilia 1’38.579
17 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Aprilia 1’38.655
18 73 Shuhei AOYAMA JPN Racing Team Germany Honda 1’38.682
19 15 Roberto LOCATELLI ITA Metis Gilera Gilera 1’38.682
20 11 Balazs NEMETH HUN Balatonring Team Aprilia 1’38.821
21 53 Valentin DEBISE FRA CIP Moto – GP250 Honda 1’40.108
22 56 Vladimir LEONOV RUS Viessmann Kiefer Racing Aprilia 1’41.110
23 8 Bastien CHESAUX SWI Matteoni Racing Aprilia 1’42.290
Not classified
10 Imre TOTH HUN Team Toth Aprilia Aprilia Lap
Out of limit time
33 William DUNLOP IRL Bigman Racing Honda

Sepang 2009: 250cc Race Highlights and some brilliant commentary

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:34:00 +0000

Video highlights below of the 250cc race at Sepang showing Aoyama’s battle with Simoncelli.

Plus the best commentary you’ll ever hear (especially when the action heats up) – give me this over BBC’s Charlie ‘needs that like a third armpit’ Cox anyday.

Sepang 2009: 250cc Race Results

admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:30:45 +0000

A thrilling 250cc race saw Hiroshi Aoyama take a step closer to the World Championship, and Alvaro Bautista effectively end his title hopes with a third consecutive race crash.

From lap 11 the battle really began to heat up with Simoncelli and Aoyama trading places with some tight and aggressive racing. Eventually Aoyama came out on top, and it was left to Simoncelli and Barbera to fight to 2nd place, which was eventually decided by a photo finish in favour of Barbera.

1 4 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Scot Racing Team 250cc Honda 42’55.689
2 40 Hector BARBERA SPA Pepe World Team Aprilia 43’02.086
3 58 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA Metis Gilera Gilera 43’02.086
4 12 Thomas LUTHI SWI Emmi – Caffe Latte Aprilia 43’10.560
5 55 Hector FAUBEL SPA Honda SAG Honda 43’14.866
6 14 Ratthapark WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT SAG Honda 43’15.256
7 6 Alex DEBON SPA Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens Aprilia 43’15.944
8 52 Lukas PESEK CZE Auto Kelly – CP Aprilia 43’30.250
9 25 Alex BALDOLINI ITA WTR San Marino Team Aprilia 43’46.626
10 73 Shuhei AOYAMA JPN Racing Team Germany Honda 43’59.875
11 11 Balazs NEMETH HUN Balatonring Team Aprilia 44’04.606
12 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Aprilia 44’06.305
13 53 Valentin DEBISE FRA CIP Moto – GP250 Honda 44’13.634
14 8 Bastien CHESAUX SWI Matteoni Racing Aprilia 44’25.358
15 56 Vladimir LEONOV RUS Viessmann Kiefer Racing Aprilia 44’39.225
16 48 Shoya TOMIZAWA JPN CIP Moto – GP250 Honda 42’59.560 147.111 1 Lap
Not classified
35 Raffaele DE ROSA ITA Scot Racing Team 250cc Honda 37’10.405 4 Lap
16 Jules CLUZEL FRA Matteoni Racing Aprilia 24’35.585 9 Lap
75 Mattia PASINI ITA Paddock GP Racing Team Aprilia 25’40.460 9 Lap
63 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc Aprilia 18’07.508 12 Lap
19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Aprilia 14’09.377 14 Lap
15 Roberto LOCATELLI ITA Metis Gilera Gilera 10’57.990 15 Lap
7 Axel PONS SPA Pepe World Team Aprilia 4’30.975 18 Lap
10 Imre TOTH HUN Team Toth Aprilia Aprilia 2’27.805 19 Lap

Sepang 2009: 250cc Qualifying Times

admin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:33:50 +0000

1. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda 2m06.767s
2. Jules Cluzel Aprilia 2m07.099s + 0.332s
3. Mike di Meglio Aprilia 2m07.232s + 0.465s
4. Hector Barbera Aprilia 2m07.301s + 0.534s
5. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 2m07.371s + 0.604s
6. Ratthapark Wilairot Honda 2m07.662s + 0.895s
7. Hector Faubel Honda 2m07.828s + 1.061s
8. Marco Simoncelli Gilera 2m07.916s + 1.149s
9. Thomas Luthi Aprilia 2m07.949s + 1.182s
10. Raffaele de Rosa Honda 2m07.953s + 1.186s
11. Alex Debon Aprilia 2m07.998s + 1.231s
12. Mattia Pasini Aprilia 2m08.159s + 1.392s
13. Roberto Locatelli Gilera 2m08.836s + 2.069s
14. Alex Baldolini Aprilia 2m08.841s + 2.074s
15. Karel Abraham Aprilia 2m08.908s + 2.141s
16. Shoya Tomizawa Honda 2m09.148s + 2.381s
17. Lukas Pesek Aprilia 2m09.336s + 2.569s
18. Axel Pons Aprilia 2m09.392s + 2.625s
19. Shuhei Aoyama Honda 2m09.654s + 2.887s
20. Balazs Nemeth Aprilia 2m11.611s + 4.844s
21. Bastien Chesaux Aprilia 2m11.941s + 5.174s
22. Valentin Debise Honda 2m12.171s + 5.404s
23. Vladimir Leonov Aprilia 2m12.813s + 6.046s
24. Imre Toth Aprilia 2m14.831s + 8.064s

Sepang 2009: 250cc Friday Practice results

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:54:21 +0000

Aoyama starts strong as the battle for the 250cc World Championship enters its endgame.

250cc friday free practice results below:

1 4 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Scot Racing Team 250cc Honda 2’07.875
2 6 Alex DEBON SPA Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens Aprilia 2’07.888
3 14 Ratthapark WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT SAG Honda 2’07.927
4 63 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc Aprilia 2’07.973
5 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Aprilia 2’08.159
6 40 Hector BARBERA SPA Pepe World Team Aprilia 2’08.285
7 75 Mattia PASINI ITA Paddock GP Racing Team Aprilia 2’08.763
8 52 Lukas PESEK CZE Auto Kelly – CP Aprilia 2’08.852
9 35 Raffaele DE ROSA ITA Scot Racing Team 250cc Honda 2’09.120
10 58 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA Metis Gilera Gilera 2’09.137
11 12 Thomas LUTHI SWI Emmi – Caffe Latte Aprilia 2’09.159
12 55 Hector FAUBEL SPA Honda SAG Honda 2’09.209
13 16 Jules CLUZEL FRA Matteoni Racing Aprilia 2’09.635
14 25 Alex BALDOLINI ITA WTR San Marino Team Aprilia 2’09.804
15 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Aprilia 2’09.816
16 73 Shuhei AOYAMA JPN Racing Team Germany Honda 2’09.858
17 15 Roberto LOCATELLI ITA Metis Gilera Gilera 2’10.001
18 48 Shoya TOMIZAWA JPN CIP Moto – GP250 Honda 2’10.072
19 7 Axel PONS SPA Pepe World Team Aprilia 2’12.612
20 53 Valentin DEBISE FRA CIP Moto – GP250 Honda 2’12.919
21 56 Vladimir LEONOV RUS Viessmann Kiefer Racing Aprilia 2’13.159
22 8 Bastien CHESAUX SWI Matteoni Racing Aprilia 2’13.265
23 11 Balazs NEMETH HUN Balatonring Team Aprilia 2’13.414
24 10 Imre TOTH HUN Team Toth Aprilia Aprilia 2’14.116

Sepang 2009: Team Aspar 250cc Race Preview

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:04:24 +0000

Álvaro Bautista:
“Luck hasn’t been on our side over the past couple of races. I guess that in this sport, as in any other, you have to prepare yourself properly and believe you can win but you also need a touch of luck too. After Portugal I was sure that we couldn’t hold anything back in the races that remained, that it was time to take a few risks and that’s what we did in Australia. The gamble didn’t pay off but we can’t lose heart. Sepang is another circuit I love and I know that the Aprilia can perform much better than the Honda here, so we have to make the most of it. The championship is a very slim possibility but it is still a possibility and we have nothing to lose, so we’ll just give it our best shot every time we go out onto the track and try everything we can to win the last two races.”

Mike Di Meglio:
“Sepang is a circuit where I usually struggle to find a good set-up and feel comfortable. Even last season, when I was fighting for the podium, my bike wasn’t 100% right. It will be new and different with the 250 so I hope I can adapt quickly. Looking back on the race in Australia I realised where I went wrong and why I made the mistakes I did, and I want to work hard to make sure they don’t happen again. The result at Phillip Island wasn’t bad but I wasn’t completely satisfied with it because I see myself more of a frontrunner now than a chaser. I also want to get back on the podium – we have the material and enough quality to do it.”

Balázs Németh:
“Everything will be new for me again in Malaysia, just as it was at Phillip Island. I’m really excited about it because from what I know about Sepang it is an incredible circuit – not just because of its length but also its characteristics. I’m sure I’m going to like it so I head into this weekend with plenty of motivation and ready to work hard from Friday. It won’t be easy because fatigue always plays a part when you have back-to-back races but I hope I can give it my best shot. In the past two races I have been a hair’s breadth from getting back in the points and I want to do so as soon as possible.”

Phillip Island 2009: Aoyama and Bautista rider reations

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:53:44 +0000

Marco Simoncelli’s victory, and Alvaro Bautista’s crash in the shortened 250cc race in Australia has left the championship wide open – only a few races ago, Aoyama and Bautista were the two main contenders in the hunt for the title, rider reactions below:

Hiroshi Aoyama (250cc, 7th):
“The engine was OK. The problem was the stability of the bike out of the fast corners, where I could not get a high speed, loosing a lot of time. Nevertheless, in the 19th lap I was able to pass quite a few riders and to progress in the ranking, but the race was stopped”.

10th Álvaro Bautista:
“After the problems that we had in the practices and the work that we had to put in to get back up to the front, it was a pity that I fell. This morning we made an adjustment to the bike and I fell, meaning that I couldn’t assess the change fully even though I had felt good. Everything was going great in the race, and I saw that I was strong. I had rear tyre problems that caused me to slide around, but I still tried to put it all on the line and take some risks. I only wanted to win, second place was not enough. The finale leaves a bittersweet taste, but at least I can say that I gave my all. Even with everything in place for a good ride, sometimes you need a bit of luck on your side, and for the second consecutive GP we didn’t have that. It is a pity, because the title is now even further away, but we just have to think that the next two races can go our way, and we can do much better.”