Simón given hero’s welcome in home town

After his highly successful trip to Australasia newly crowned 125cc World Champion Julián Simón has arrived home safely to his home town of Villacañas, Spain, greeted by thousands of his fellow citizens who lined the streets to acknowledge his achievements.

The Bancaja Aspar rider clinched the 2009 125cc title with a stunning race victory in Australia just under two weeks ago and underlined his status as the dominant rider in the class with another win in Malaysia last Sunday, before boarding the plane back to Europe.

Ahead of the end of season finale in Valencia Simón is enjoying some days at home with his family and friends – who would have been immensely proud of the hero’s welcome the likeable Spaniard received as he was paraded through the streets of Villacañas this week.

In the town hall, Simón, Jorge Martínez "Aspar” and additional members of the Aspar team were officially greeted by the town’s mayor, Santiago García Aranda, who acknowledged the rider’s achievements on behalf of the people of Villacañas.

Simón’s homecoming World Championship celebrations can be witnessed in the accompanying free video.