Hiroshi Aoyama's full-time Grand Prix career began in 2004 after a series of wildcard entries in the 250 class between 2000 and 2003. Campaigning with Honda and KTM between 2004-08, he took eight victories and never finished lower than seventh overall, winning the 2009 250 World Championship - thus becoming the last ever winner of the class before its replacement by Moto2™. In 2010 Aoyama was the lone Japanese rider competing in MotoGP™, though his rookie year was abruptly interrupted by an injury from a crash at Silverstone that caused him to miss six races, finishing the year with a best result of seventh in Malaysia. The Japanese rider joined the San Carlo Honda Gresini team for 2011, claiming a best finish of fourth at the Spanish GP. Following a difficult year in the SBK Championship with the Ten Kate Honda team, Aoyama returned to MotoGP™ aboard the CRT bike of Avintia Racing; 2013 would be disrupted, however, by a hand-injuring crash in Barcelona. For 2014, he made the switch to Power Electronics Aspar where, alongside 2006 MotoGP™ World Champion Nicky Hayden, he rode the Honda RCV1000R machine. In 2015, Aoyama left competition and was a test rider for HRC, before being called up to sub for injured Dani Pedrosa in some early races in the season as Pedrosa underwent career-saving surgery. The Japanese rider continues in his role as test rider, as well as working alongside Alberto Puig in the Asia Talent Cup, and returns to replace Pedrosa once again this year.
Rider Stats
Videos
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MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Idemitsu Honda Team Asia: the Asian power in MotoGP™
Meet the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia and hear from their team manager about building a strong team and coaching Asian riders
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MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Aoyama on rookie compatriot Nakagami
The 2009 250 World Champion talks Takaaki Nakagami as the premier class gets back some Japanese representation on the grid
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MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Aoyama: "It's a strange feeling"
Hiroshi Aoyama comes back to the MotoGP Championship for the second time this year to replace Karel Abraham.
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MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
MotoGP™ grid discuss Argentina Practice
The fastest MotoGP™ riders of the day give us feedback on their Free Practice results in Argentina.
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MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
MotoGP™ grid discuss Americas Practice
The fastest MotoGP™ riders of the day give us feedback on their Free Practice results in Austin, Texas.
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MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Aoyama discusses his return to MotoGP™
Hiroshi Aoyama chats to motogp.com about filling in for the injured Dani Pedrosa in the Repsol Honda Team.
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MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Valencia 2014 - MotoGP - RACE - Interview - Hiroshi Aoyama
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MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Valencia 2014 - MotoGP - Q1 - Interview - Hiroshi Aoyama
Rider Bio
Bike
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Date of birth
25/10/1981
Place of birth
Chiba
Height
165 cm
Weight
57 kg
Rider Story
News
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Aoyama: the last 250 World Champion
Set to replace the injured Jack Miller this weekend, we take a closer look at the HRC test rider and former intermediate class Champion
By motogp.com -
Aoyama to replace Miller at Motegi
Former 250 World Champion to line up in the premier class on home turf with EG 0,0 Marc VDS
By motogp.com
Videos
-
MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Idemitsu Honda Team Asia: the Asian power in MotoGP™
Meet the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia and hear from their team manager about building a strong team and coaching Asian riders
-
MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Aoyama on rookie compatriot Nakagami
The 2009 250 World Champion talks Takaaki Nakagami as the premier class gets back some Japanese representation on the grid
-
MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Aoyama: "It's a strange feeling"
Hiroshi Aoyama comes back to the MotoGP Championship for the second time this year to replace Karel Abraham.
-
MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
MotoGP™ grid discuss Argentina Practice
The fastest MotoGP™ riders of the day give us feedback on their Free Practice results in Argentina.
-
MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
MotoGP™ grid discuss Americas Practice
The fastest MotoGP™ riders of the day give us feedback on their Free Practice results in Austin, Texas.
-
MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Aoyama discusses his return to MotoGP™
Hiroshi Aoyama chats to motogp.com about filling in for the injured Dani Pedrosa in the Repsol Honda Team.
-
MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Valencia 2014 - MotoGP - RACE - Interview - Hiroshi Aoyama
-
MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Valencia 2014 - MotoGP - Q1 - Interview - Hiroshi Aoyama