Scot Racing’s Hiroshi Aoyama remains on course for the 250cc championship after the GP at Estoril on October 4, with the Japanese rider also confirmed as a MotoGP competitor for next year.
It was announced over the weekend that, like his countryman Yuki Takahashi last year, Hiro will step up to the 800cc formula in 2010, riding a Honda RC212V like those currently enjoyed by Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso for a new venture from current Emmi Caffè Latte 250cc team manager Daniel Epp.
But with matters still to resolve on this year’s 250cc Honda machine, Hiro took a solid fourth place behind Marco Simoncelli, Mike di Meglio and Héctor Barberá to make the gap between himself and Álvaro Bautista, who crashed early on in the Portuguese race, a healthy 26pts with three races to go, though Simoncelli’s win brings him to within two points of Spaniard Bautista and means that his challenge of Aoyama’s lead is still on.
“It is a very important series and the level is the best in the world,” said Aoyama of next year’s challenge. “It won’t be easy, but I want to fight with those riders and always try to make my performances better.”
© GEPA Pictures/Red Bull Photofiles
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Red Bull KTM’s Marc Márquez in the 125s, as he went crashing out. Márquez had hoped to continue the improvement that had seen him take eighth, sixth and fourth places in the last three grands prix. He was in good company, however – series leader Julián Simón also wiped out and eventually finished 12th on the Aprilia. Simón’s Bancaja Espar team-mate Bradley Smith took third behind Pol Espargaró and Sandro Cortese to keep the 125cc championship alive, now moving into second place in the standings ahead of Nicolás Terol, who also retired.
Current 250cc standings
Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan), Scot Racing Team – 218pts
Álvaro Bautista (Spain), Mapfre Aspar Team – 192pts
Marco Simoncelli (Italy), Metis Gilera – 190pts
Current 125cc standings
Julián Simón (Spain), Bancajar Aspar Team – 214pts
Bradley Smith (Great Britain), Bancajar Aspar Team – 163.5pts
Nicolás Terol (Spain), Jack & Jones Team – 152.5pts
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