It has been one of those days we will never forget. At the end of a dramatic race, in which everything happened, Team Scot's rider Hiroshi Aoyama clinched the 250cc World Title. He's the 2009 King, in the last season of an highly competitive class that has been providing great champions the sport.
Aoyama's season began with a podium at the second GP, and a victory in the third, to make it clear to everybody that any rider aiming to the World Title had to take Hiro-san into great account.
In today's race, Hiro had to defend and advantage of 21 points over the second qualified. Nevertheless, his strategy was simple: to attack. With 18 laps to go, the first thrill: fighting for the top positions - his title apparently well secured - Hiro went into the gravel. A slow, long journey. He managed to go back on track, in 11th position - the last useful to maintain the leadership and winning the title.
While Aoyama's name was descending down the board, De Rosa's one was climbing up. He too had a leadership to defend, being on top of the Rookie of The Year Championship. Lap by lap, he has been able to gain positions, and to catch his direct rival for the young drivers' title. And besides, the podium was not so far away.
With eight laps to go, first coup de theatre: De Rosa's opponent crashes. And, after one lap, is Hiro's contender for the title to do the same. The Japanese rider, in the meantime, had made up a few positions; when he crosses the finish line, in seventh place (at 13.00'48" local time) he is the 2009 World Champion. Just seconds before, Raffaele De Rosa had got the Rookie of The Year title.

Hiroshi Aoyama (7^th, 261 points, World Champion): "What a race. I wanted a victory, and pushed to get it. Maybe I pushed too much - I went wide, and into the gravel. While proceeding across it, I was thinking that I always has been good with the off-road. I knew my chances to avoid a crash were 50-50. At the end, I managed to re-gain the track. In the first moment in did non knew what my position was, so I begin to push again... I cannot call it a beautiful race, but what a feeling to come home with the title... I want to thank everybody. Especially the box. Thanks. Thanks to all of you, folks. It is a dream that comes true. And tomorrow, another dream starts..."

Raffaele De Rosa (3^rd, 122 points, Rookie of The Year): "I enjoyed the race. I crashed - but while climbing the podium... A fantastic weekend. Great on track, great in the garage. At the beginning of the race there were so many riders in front of me, and I realised that it was going to be a tough race. Then, I started to make up position, improving lap by lap. The tyres begin to get the limit, but I went on recovering positions. The wind was strong, but I could manage the condition. I've been able to defend my championship. I'm happy. Happy for myself, happy for the team. Thanks to everybody. And I want to congratulate Aoyama: he has been brave to get the title in such tricky conditions. Well done, Hiro!"

Cirano Mularoni (Team Owner): "We knew even before the beginning of the season Aoyama's qualities: it is because of them that we wanted him as a rider of ours. We hadn't any doubt about his capability to be Word Champion. He deserves very much the title - he competed constantly at the top, with just a single slowdown. Great Hiro.
At the same time, I never had any doubt about the competence of my people. About the commitment of my team. Anyway, their capability to develop the bike into a high performance and reliable tool was even superior to what I could ask them. Thank you, folks. Thank you, Hiro".

Alberto Martinelli (Sporting Director): "We aimed at two titles, and we got both of them. It was not possible doing better. I want to stress not only the value of the single people, but also the strength and cohesion of the team. Thanks to everybody".

Aoyama year by year
1996 Kanto Minibike Champion
1997 Kanto Minibike Champion
1998 2nd 125 Tsukuba Championship (Honda)
1999 11th 125 All-Japan Championship (Honda)
2000 2nd 250 All-Japan Championship (Honda)
2001 8th 250 All-Japan Championship (Honda)
2002 2nd 250 All-Japan Championship (Honda)
2003 250 All-Japan Champion (Honda)
2004 6th 250 World Championship (Honda)
2005 4th 250 World Championship (Honda)
2006 4th 250 World Championship (KTM)
2007 6th 250 World Championship (KTM)
2008 7th 250 World Championship (KTM)
2009 250 World Champion (Honda)