Likeable Japanese rider Shuhei Aoyama made his full debut in the World Championship last season, and was crowned Rookie Of The Year for his performances as part of the Repsol Honda team. Having previously competed as a wildcard in the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix, the younger brother of fellow 250cc rider Hiroshi Aoyama has won 125cc titles on a national level back in his homeland. In a season in which he finished 8th overall, with a podium at Le Mans, Aoyama has proved to be an exciting addition to the quarter litre class, entertaining spectators with both his all-action style and antics such as a rain dance in the pit lane during qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix. He continues with Repsol Honda in 2007.