A title-winning season reviewed by Simón

For many riders it does not get much better than securing a World Championship title, but Julián Simón’s in the 125cc class in 2009 had an added air of accomplishment about it. Stepping back down from the 250cc category after two seasons, the Villacañas rider’s decision was vindicated in fine style as he won seven races on his way to his first World title.

With only two podium finishes before this season – a win at Donington in 2005 and third place in Japan in 2006, both in the 125cc class – a total of 12 over the course of the 2009 campaign was the basis of consistency that led to Simón’s success.

“It was an incredible sensation. I saw all my team on the TV screen and it was a special moment for me,” said the 22 year-old of the moment he secured the title with his fifth win of the season at Phillip Island, after a hard-fought battle with his Bancaja Aspar team-mate Bradley Smith at the Australian circuit. “I entered the corner very close to him (Smith) and I thought: ‘Ok, I’ll try’. I knew if I passed him I had won the Championship. If not, no problem, second place was very good for the Championship.”

Simón added, “It was unbelievable. I also remembered the past six years with no podiums, no victories and now I was the World Champion, so it was an incredible moment for me.”

Speaking of his decision to return to the 125cc class, Simón said, “When I tried the 125cc bike for first time I was very confident with the team. They were like a family, they worked very well and they had good experience in 125cc so at that moment I thought it was possible to have a good season.”

“I was at the front very quickly, with a pole in Qatar, and I also had a good result in Japan. At that moment my mentality was strong. I arrived at Jerez leading the World Championship but when I crashed there I thought that I needed to be more relaxed and work in a different way in every race, so something changed.”

He added of his back to back wins at the midway point of the season, “The most important races of the year were at Donington Park and in Germany.”

Now that he has conquered the 125cc class, Simón will graduate to Moto2 to participate in the inaugural season, remaining with the Aspar team.

“Moto2 is completely different to 250cc,” said Simón. “It will be difficult, but the Aspar team has a very good project with an Aprilia chassis, and I think it is possible to get good results.”