250cc class ready for Le Mans

In the 250cc category, leader Mika Kallio has been on the rostrum at every race to date on the road to Le Mans, including victories at Jerez and the most recent round in Shanghai. Pasini has only failed to place on the rostrum in Portugal, with a strong start to his quarter litre category career onboard the Polaris World Aprilia.

Three different manufacturers are featured in the top four, with the KTM-armed Kallio ahead of Aprilia´s Pasini & Hector Barbera and lone Honda top ten man Yuki Takahashi. The JiR Team Scot rider took his first ever World Championship victory at Le Mans in 2006 and, two years and a series of injury setbacks later, is finally back on top form and in the fight for podiums in the class.

Takahashi's fellow Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama moved up to fifth with a second place in Shanghai, completing a Red Bull KTM one-two at the Chinese circuit. The top six is completed by expected title challenger Alvaro Bautista, who has been hit by a series of unfortunate crashes that have taken their toll on his points tally. The Mapfre Aspar rider finished eighth in Le Mans last season.