Aoyama and Bautista fighting for 250cc title in Czech contest

Courtesy of his three wins, two additional podiums and his consistent overall form Hiroshi Aoyama currently enjoys a 15 point lead over second placed Álvaro Bautista in the 250cc World Championship.

A repeat of his 2006 Brno 250cc podium would therefore keep the Japanese rider at the head of the standings, even if the Spaniard were to be victorious this weekend in the Czech Republic.

Following his costly late crash in a duel with Aoyama at Assen Bautista has bounced back with two consecutive podiums and the Mapfre Aspar rider was a winner in the Czech Republic in 2006 during his 125cc title-winning campaign. As the title race intensifies Bautista will look to go one better than his second place at Donington and prevent another 2009 Aoyama victory.

Indeed, Bautista was second in last year’s 250cc Brno contest just ahead of reigning World Champion Marco Simoncelli who finished third. The Italian Metis Gilera man is also third in the current classification and will be looking for better form in the second half of the year after a rollercoaster season so far, as he prepares for his move up to MotoGP with San Carlo Honda Gresini.

Just one point behind Simoncelli at present is another Spanish rival Héctor Barberá who saw a run of four consecutive top five results come to an end in eighth place at Donington. Last year’s Czech 250cc winner Alex Debon, meanwhile, lies sixth overall in the standings, just behind Mattia Pasini.

Free practice at the Cardion AB Czech Republic Grand Prix commences on the afternoon of Friday 14th August.