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Sunday October 25, 2009

Aoyama in great position to claim 250cc world crown

HIROSHI Aoyama, who is hoping to become only the third Japanese rider to win the 250cc world title, continued with his fine form by setting a new pole position record at the Sepang Circuit yesterday.

Having posted the fastest times in both practice sessions, Aoyama clocked a sizzling lap of 2:06.767 on his Honda in the final moments of qualifying to go 0.332s clear of Frenchman Jules Cluzel.

Fellow French rider Mike di Meglio and Spaniard Hector Barbera completed the front row.

The previous pole position record of 2:08.012 was set last year by Spaniard Alvaro Bautista, who went on to win the 20-lap race.

After the frustration of a seventh-placed finish in the red-flagged Australian Grand Prix at Philip Island last Sunday, Aoyama was all smiles yesterday as he knows he will be in a strong position to make a clear run for his first world title.

Aoyama leads the 250cc standings by 12 points ahead of defending world champion Marco Simoncelli.

The Italian could only clock the eighth fastest time in qualifying and will need to finish fourth or better to prevent the Japanese from clinching the world title.

Aoyama is dreaming of following in the footsteps of compatriots Tetsuya Harada and the late Daijiro Kato, who were world champions in 1993 and 2001 respectively.

“This is a good track for me as I won the race here before (in 2007). The conditions will be tough again tomorrow (today) but I have a good setting so far and I will try to fight to keep my position,” said Aoyama, who has 227 points going into the penultimate round of the 17-round championships.

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