An exciting 250cc race in Assen gave fans a treat on Saturday afternoon, the typical day for racing in the Netherlands. Héctor Barberá took off from pole, but the race quickly turned into a battle between Álvaro Bautista and Hiroshi Aoyama for the seventh available win of the season. Barberá and Simoncelli were left to battle amongst themselves just behind the leading duo.

What had looked to be a duel that would go to the line ended prematurely when Bautista smashed into the back of Aoyama’s Honda bike. The Spaniard thus left Assen with no points and conceded both the victory and the championship lead to his Japanese rival. Barberá was second, with Simoncelli third.

Álvaro Bautista (DNF): “My plan was to take it right to the end with Aoyama, because I saw that in the final sector I was quicker than him and I could try a pass. I think that I could have done it, but maybe he had a problem with the bike that stopped him in the chicane. I ran into the back of him and couldn’t do anything. The crash is a pity because we could have taken at least twenty points, and the incident has lost us the leadership of the championship. We have to look at the good side though, we had a good race and showed that we are very strong. The results will keep coming if we keep working like we are now.”

Pos | Rider | Nation | Team | Total time | Gap

1 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Scot Racing Team 250cc 40’44.008
2 Hector BARBERA SPA Pepe World Team 40’48.432 4.424
3 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA Metis Gilera 40’54.347 10.339
4 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Balatonring Team 40’55.391 11.383
5 Roberto LOCATELLI ITA Metis Gilera 40’55.604 11.596
6 Alex DEBON SPA Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens 40’58.273 14.265
7 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 41’01.990 17.982
8 Hector FAUBEL SPA Valencia CF – Honda SAG 41’03.020 19.012
9 Ratthapark WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT SAG 41’04.934 20.926
10 Raffaele DE ROSA ITA Scot Racing Team 250cc 41’05.041 21.033
11 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc 41’16.136 32.128
12 Lukas PESEK CZE Auto Kelly – CP 41’25.337 41.329
13 Alex BALDOLINI ITA WTR San Marino Team 41’49.329 1’05.321
14 Valentin DEBISE FRA CIP Moto – GP250 41’56.459 1’12.451
15 Imre TOTH HUN Team Toth Aprilia 40’52.181 1 Lap
16 Vladimir LEONOV RUS Viessmann Kiefer Racing 40’59.230 1 Lap

Not classified
19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Aprilia 37’14.827 2 Lap
8 Bastien CHESAUX SWI Racing Team Germany Honda 33’31.755 5 Lap
7 Axel PONS SPA Pepe World Team Aprilia 29’38.653 8 Lap
54 Toby MARKHAM GBR C&L Racing Honda 25’32.256 10 Lap
80 Stevie BONSEY USA Milar – Juegos Lucky Aprilia 23’40.998 11 Lap
75 Mattia PASINI ITA Team Toth Aprilia Aprilia 23’48.443 11 Lap
12 Thomas LUTHI SWI Emmi – Caffe Latte Aprilia 17’09.195 14 Lap
16 Jules CLUZEL FRA Matteoni Racing Aprilia 8’40.770 19 Lap

Not finished 1st lap
48 Shoya TOMIZAWA JPN CIP Moto – GP250 Honda

The year is 1992, the circuit is Interlagos in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A rain-hit qualifying session sees Jorge Martínez “Aspar” start from 25th position on the grid. The signs were not good for the man from Alzira until the green light was shown and from that point things could not have gone better as he passed rider after rider until finishing second behind the German Dirk Raudies, who celebrated his first Grand Prix victory. It was a second place that began a new era of success for the Aspar Team and a new chapter of history in motorcycling legend. The fourth World Champion did not take long to score his first victory as rider and manager of his own team. It came later that season at the Kyalami circuit after a hard-fought group battle with Raudies, Gresini and Giró. Looking back it feels like only yesterday that Jorge Martínez “Aspar” made that transition from rider to rider-manager and a whole new success story was born.

The Spaniard exuded the same passion for racing as a manager that he did as a rider and it wasn’t long before the Aspar Team established its reputation as a popular and credible team on the world stage, with more podiums and victories soon to follow that early success. In 1997 the moment finally arrived for Jorge to hang up his leathers but not before signing off in style in Indonesia, where he started from pole position and finished on the podium in third place after a hard-fought battle with Valentino Rossi. Having swapped his race bike for an office chair, Aspar was able to look on and enjoy as his podium standards were maintained by Aspar Team riders. The tradition which started eighteen years ago has continued to this very day, when Gadea´s victory took the team to a sensational 200th podium in the 125cc race at Assen, with another podium treble for the three Bancaja riders. Almost two decades of comings and goings, the smell of fuel and burnt rubber, celebrations and laps of honour, of national anthems, of holding back the tears. of podiums. The list goes on, but suffice to say these are just a handful of the experiences shared by the team over the years. Who could forget the sight of Fonsi Nieto in 2002, stricken on the wet asphalt of the Estoril circuit, down but not out as he remounted to take an unthinkable victory? Or the pass by Toni Elías on Marco Melandri to take victory in the final corner at Motegi in 2003? It also would be rude not to mention the fourteen podiums scored by Álvaro Bautista in 2006, the icing on the cake coming with the celebration of the 125cc World Championship title in Australia. In fact the 2006 season was the most successful on record for the Aspar Team, with 41 podiums in all classes and historic rostrum trebles in the 125 races at Istanbul Park and Montmeló. Aspar riders dominated the series again in 2007, with another podium treble at Valencia and another world title in front of the team’s home fans. Italian, French, Argentinean, English, Hungarian, Japanese and of course Spanish riders have all contributed to make the Aspar Team the most successful line-up in the smaller categories of the World Championship.

Jorge Martínez “Aspar”: “For me it is very fitting to celebrate our 200th podium here at Assen because this is where I scored my first Grand Prix win, back in 1984. It is now 30 years since I began my racing career. Who would have thought that that little 15-year-old, who only wanted to race bikes, would be here today enjoying such a special moment? It is a double satisfaction, firstly for the 200 podiums but also to have seen the variety of riders that have passed through our team, from so many different countries – it is a wonderfully enriching experience. I would like to personally thank each and every one of those riders who have left their mark on this team, all the mechanics, staff and of course sponsors who over the years have given us the necessary backing to support this Project.”

Pos | Rider | Team | Lap time | Gap

1 Marco SIMONCELLI Metis Gilera 1’40.835
2 Hiroshi AOYAMA Scot Racing Team 250cc 1’41.226 0.391
3 Mattia PASINI Team Toth Aprilia 1’41.463 0.628
4 Alex DEBON Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens 1’41.526 0.691
5 Alvaro BAUTISTA Mapfre Aspar Team 1’41.774 0.939
6 Hector BARBERA Pepe World Team 1’41.811 0.976
7 Thomas LUTHI Emmi – Caffe Latte 1’41.835 1.000
8 Aleix ESPARGARO Balatonring Team 1’42.001 1.166
9 Ratthapark WILAIROT Thai Honda PTT SAG 1’42.149 1.314
10 Roberto LOCATELLI Metis Gilera 1’42.247 1.412
11 Shoya TOMIZAWA CIP Moto – GP250 1’42.314 1.479
12 Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 1’42.320 1.485
13 Hector FAUBEL Valencia CF – Honda SAG 1’42.417 1.582
14 Alex BALDOLINI WTR San Marino Team 1’42.428 1.593
15 Raffaele DE ROSA Scot Racing Team 250cc 1’42.430 1.595
16 Mike DI MEGLIO Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc 1’42.565 1.730
17 Lukas PESEK Auto Kelly – CP 1’42.574 1.739
18 Jules CLUZEL Matteoni Racing 1’42.761 1.926
19 Axel PONS Pepe World Team 1’43.790 2.955
20 Valentin DEBISE CIP Moto – GP250 1’43.874 3.039
21 Imre TOTH Team Toth Aprilia 1’45.441 4.606
22 Stevie BONSEY Milar – Juegos Lucky 1’45.602 4.767
23 Bastien CHESAUX Racing Team Germany 1’45.629 4.794
24 Vladimir LEONOV Viessmann Kiefer Racing 1’47.570 6.735

Not classified
54 Toby MARKHAM GBR C&L Racing Honda Lap

This afternoon’s qualifying practice for the 250cc class provided a sneak peek of what we can expect in tomorrow’s race, with an entertaining four-way battle for pole position amongst the protagonists of the championship chase. Spanish pair Bautista and Barberá dominated the early exchanges before Marco Simoncelli and Hiroshi Aoyama, flying the flag for Honda against the might of the Aprilia trio, made late challenges. In the end it was Barberá who took the honours although he will be as aware as anybody that the points are not dished out until tomorrow.

It was a busy morning for the Mapfre team, with both riders testing the resistance of their leathers to the Assen asphalt during free practice. Luckily both Álvaro Bautista and Mike Di Meglio emerged unhurt from their crashes, the Spaniard’s coming in turn six when he lost the front of his Aprilia, a problem that also saw the Frenchman hit the deck on two occasions. Bautista recovered to get back on the pace and challenge for pole in the afternoon, missing out to Barberá by just two tenths, whilst Di Meglio also did well to recover his composure and concentration. His first crash came early in the morning session in turn nine when he was trying to avoid another rider and his second came on lap six, but the 125cc World Champion benefited from the swift work of his mechanics to lap ninth quickest in the afternoon.

3rd Álvaro Bautista 1.40.210 (22 laps): “I had a few problems with the front end in corner entry this afternoon, which I think is because we were running a used front tyre and a new rear. About halfway through this afternoon’s qualifying we started to make some progress with the bike and I began to enjoy myself. In the end it was a good session, with a good pace, so I hope I can keep riding like I want to tomorrow in both the warm-up and the race. We were really close to pole but the most important thing was to be on the front row and we’ve done that. I’d like to improve the bike a little more before the race tomorrow just to be on the safe side but I think the fight will be between the same people as Barcelona, with Aoyama and Barberá both looking good. This morning we tried a few things with the front-end set-up and went down the wrong route at one point, which is what led to the crash, but I’m not worried because we know what the problem was.”

Pos | Rider | Team | Lap time | Gap

1 Hector BARBERA Pepe World Team 1’40.019
2 Hiroshi AOYAMA Scot Racing Team 250cc 1’40.192 0.173
3 Alvaro BAUTISTA Mapfre Aspar Team 1’40.210 0.191
4 Marco SIMONCELLI Metis Gilera 1’40.320 0.301
5 Aleix ESPARGARO Balatonring Team 1’40.796 0.777
6 Alex DEBON Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens 1’40.830 0.811
7 Raffaele DE ROSA Scot Racing Team 250cc 1’41.023 1.004
8 Mattia PASINI Team Toth Aprilia 1’41.055 1.036
9 Mike DI MEGLIO Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc 1’41.072 1.053
10 Lukas PESEK Auto Kelly – CP 1’41.190 1.171
11 Ratthapark WILAIROT Thai Honda PTT SAG 1’41.235 1.216
12 Roberto LOCATELLI Metis Gilera 1’41.347 1.328
13 Hector FAUBEL Valencia CF – Honda SAG 1’41.462 1.443
14 Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 1’41.533 1.514
15 Thomas LUTHI Emmi – Caffe Latte 1’41.545 1.526
16 Shoya TOMIZAWA CIP Moto – GP250 1’42.038 2.019
17 Jules CLUZEL Matteoni Racing 1’42.628 2.609
18 Stevie BONSEY Milar – Juegos Lucky 1’42.697 2.678
19 Alex BALDOLINI WTR San Marino Team 1’43.075 3.056
20 Axel PONS Pepe World Team 1’43.470 3.451
21 Valentin DEBISE CIP Moto – GP250 1’43.653 3.634
22 Imre TOTH Team Toth Aprilia 1’43.913 3.894
23 Bastien CHESAUX Racing Team Germany 1’44.704 4.685
24 Vladimir LEONOV Viessmann Kiefer Racing 1’44.743 4.724
25 Toby MARKHAM C&L Racing 1’46.758 6.739

Pos | Rider | Team | Lap time | Gap

1 Hiroshi AOYAMA Scot Racing Team 250cc 1’40.642
2 Alvaro BAUTISTA Mapfre Aspar Team 1’40.876 0.234
3 Mattia PASINI Team Toth Aprilia 1’40.956 0.314
4 Marco SIMONCELLI Metis Gilera 1’41.080 0.438
5 Aleix ESPARGARO Balatonring Team 1’41.507 0.865
6 Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 1’41.556 0.914
7 Jules CLUZEL Matteoni Racing 1’41.628 0.986
8 Alex DEBON Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens 1’41.718 1.076
9 Hector BARBERA Pepe World Team 1’41.790 1.148
10 Ratthapark WILAIROT Thai Honda PTT SAG 1’41.938 1.296
11 Roberto LOCATELLI Metis Gilera 1’41.944 1.302
12 Hector FAUBEL Valencia CF – Honda SAG 1’42.077 1.435
13 Mike DI MEGLIO Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc 1’42.112 1.470
14 Raffaele DE ROSA Scot Racing Team 250cc 1’42.201 1.559
15 Thomas LUTHI Emmi – Caffe Latte 1’42.283 1.641
16 Lukas PESEK Auto Kelly – CP 1’42.287 1.645
17 Alex BALDOLINI WTR San Marino Team 1’42.625 1.983
18 Shoya TOMIZAWA CIP Moto – GP250 1’42.809 2.167
19 Axel PONS Pepe World Team 1’44.381 3.739
20 Valentin DEBISE CIP Moto – GP250 1’44.662 4.020
21 Stevie BONSEY Milar – Juegos Lucky 1’45.193 4.551
22 Vladimir LEONOV Viessmann Kiefer Racing 1’45.424 4.782
23 Bastien CHESAUX Racing Team Germany 1’45.481 4.839
24 Imre TOTH Team Toth Aprilia 1’45.531 4.889
25 Toby MARKHAM C&L Racing 1’46.564 5.922

Action at the Dutch TT got underway today, with the 250cc riders able to take advantage of warm sunshine this afternoon. The constant direction changes and the mixture of fast and slow corners make Assen one of the most exciting circuits on the calendar, with the final chicane always capable of deciding races. Despite leaving local shores behind following the last race in Barcelona, Spaniards again dominated proceedings today as Álvaro Bautista and Héctor Barberá headed up the time sheets, separated from each other by just two tenths of a second but from the rest of the field by six tenths.

Mapfre rider Bautista struggled for rear grip on his Aprilia at the start of the session but gradually creeped up the top ten, particularly impressive through T1 and T4. However, his time through T2 and T3 needed some work and four laps from the end he made a breakthrough, launching an attack on top spot and eventually breaking the 1’41 barrier with a time of 1’40.817 to dislodge his compatriot.

1st Álvaro Bautista 1.40.817 (27 laps): “To be honest the lap times weren’t particularly quick today. We had a problem at the start of the session and the rear of the bike was sliding around a lot – also the engine wasn’t working as it should be but as the session progressed we ironed things out. I’m still not completely happy with the rear of my Aprilia because it is not gripping and I can’t open the throttle when I want to. So that is mainly what we need to work on tomorrow and I’m convinced we can make big improvements. It’s not bad for the first day but we can’t afford to go to sleep tomorrow. Barberá and myself are a little ahead of the rest but that doesn’t mean anything because the pace will increase tomorrow. In our case we know where we can go faster and that is what we need to do in order for me to have fun on the bike.”