12,15 local time saw the final 250cc race not only of the 2009 season, but ever in the World Championship. The title was at stake, but also the bragging rights of ending the series’ run and putting oneself in the history books as the final winner. Héctor Barberá took a popular home win, although the fight was amongst the frontrunners with everything to play for. The title went to Hiroshi Aoyama despite not placing on the podium courtesy of a crash for Marco Simoncelli. Barberá and Álvaro Bautista made it a Spanish one-two, adding to Julián Simón’s win in 125cc and Dani Pedrosa’s in MotoGP.

Mapfre rider Álvaro Bautista was keen to not let down the fans gathered at his final home race in the support classes, especially with it being the last ride for 250cc racing machinery. The Spaniard was ninth on the grid after a tough qualifying session, but was confident in having a good race. He moved his way up the field progressively, taking third place n the fifth lap, before looking out for victory. Problems with the rear end f his Aprilia made things complicated, but Bautista was able to combat adversity sufficiently to claim second place as he crossed the 250cc finish line for the final time. Second in Jerez and the winner in Barcelona, Bautista completed a trilogy of home podium finishes with this latest result. He leaves the class behind with the satisfaction of having contested a memorable season.

2nd Álvaro Bautista: “I would have liked to have finished the year with a win but, bearing in mind the conditions that we were facing today, second is not a bad result. The wind was taking me off-track constantly, making it difficult to stick to my braking points. Yesterday we had some problems in the practice sessions, and this morning we went back to a setting that I preferred. In the warm up we were faster than we were on Saturday, so I knew that I could be up at the front. The only doubt that I had was whether the rear tyre would last the whole race. It may have gone off slightly ahead of time, and it was difficult to keep up with the guys ahead of me until the halfway point of the race. When I opened the throttle the bike started to slide. Second is nothing to be ashamed of, but obviously I would have been happier with a victory. I have spent a wonderful part of my life in the Aspar team, in which almost every moment has been good for me.”

Since Alvaro will not continue with the Aspar Team next season, he did the best he could today in Valencia to give them an appropriate farewell present with another podium finish. And not only that. If you were wondering about Alvaro’s helmet design today, it is a Jorge Martinez replica and Alvaro was paying tribute to the man who he had an excellent professional and personal relationship with over the last four seasons and who played a pivotal role in Alvaro’s quest to become the 125cc world champion in 2006 and giving him the possibility to fight for the 250cc title the last two years.
Now this exceptional relation will come to an end, but as Jorge and Alvaro both affirmed, their friendship will still go on.

Gracias, Jorge. Gracias, Alvaro.

Update: Here’s another picture of the helmet’s backside with the signature.

The final race with 250cc bikes saw the class go out with a bang as the fans at the stadium-like track were treated to an extremely exciting race with position and championship fights every corner.
Alvaro ended the year on a high note, finishing on the podium again in 2nd position while a nail-biting fight for the championship finally saw Hiroshi Aoyama deservedly take the title after Marco Simoncelli once again crashed out of the race while he was in the lead.
Although Bati wasn’t able to win the last ever 250cc race as he intended, to see him back at the front and finish the race on the podium – making it again clear that when he does finish he is always at the front – was more than great to see for team and fans alike and is a great present for his team before he will leave them for Suzuki next season.

Thank you Alvaro for another great race, well done and best of luck for your new endeavours in MotoGP. Siempre contigo!

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1. Hector Barbera Aprilia 44m10.601s
2. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia + 3.663s
3. Raffaele de Rosa Honda + 5.665s
4. Thomas Luthi Aprilia + 5.680s
5. Ratthapark Wilairot Honda + 13.601s
6. Karel Abraham Aprilia + 13.697s
7. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda + 27.438s
8. Alex Baldolini Aprilia + 35.097s
9. Roberto Locatelli Gilera + 35.866s
10. Shoya Tomizawa Honda + 40.176s
11. Shuhei Aoyama Honda + 49.095s
12. Lukas Pesek Aprilia + 53.132s
13. Balazs Nemeth Aprilia + 1m06.014s
14. Mike di Meglio Aprilia + 1m18.692s
15. Valentin Debise Honda + 1m18.876s
16. Bastien Chesaux Aprilia + 1 lap
17. Vladimir Leonov Aprilia + 1 lap
18. William Dunlop Honda + 1 lap
19. Imre Toth Aprilia + 1 lap

Retirements:
Jules Cluzel Aprilia 23 laps
Marco Simoncelli Gilera 20 laps
Axel Pons Aprilia 19 laps
Mattia Pasini Aprilia 11 laps
Hector Faubel Honda 7 laps

Very good warmup session by Alvaro this morning, leading the way for quite a bit and ending it in second position.
Alvaro will start today’s race from second row after Alex Debon pulled out of the race due to injury.

Pos. Rider Team Lap time Gap
1 Marco SIMONCELLI Metis Gilera 1’36.568
2 Alvaro BAUTISTA Mapfre Aspar Team 1’36.783 0.215
3 Hiroshi AOYAMA Scot Racing Team 250cc 1’36.850 0.282
4 Hector BARBERA Pepe World Team 1’37.227 0.659
5 Raffaele DE ROSA Scot Racing Team 250cc 1’37.491 0.923
6 Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 1’37.694 1.126
7 Ratthapark WILAIROT Thai Honda PTT SAG 1’37.713 1.145
8 Hector FAUBEL Honda SAG 1’38.351 1.783
9 Mike DI MEGLIO Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc 1’38.415 1.847
10 Mattia PASINI Paddock GP Racing Team 1’38.590 2.022
11 Lukas PESEK Auto Kelly – CP 1’38.612 2.044
12 Thomas LUTHI Emmi – Caffe Latte 1’38.676 2.108
13 Axel PONS Pepe World Team 1’38.744 2.176
14 Roberto LOCATELLI Metis Gilera 1’38.748 2.180
15 Alex BALDOLINI WTR San Marino Team 1’39.325 2.757
16 Shoya TOMIZAWA CIP Moto – GP250 1’39.828 3.260
17 Shuhei AOYAMA Racing Team Germany 1’39.885 3.317
18 Jules CLUZEL Matteoni Racing 1’39.970 3.402
19 Vladimir LEONOV Viessmann Kiefer Racing 1’40.581 4.013
20 Balazs NEMETH Balatonring Team 1’40.654 4.086
21 Valentin DEBISE CIP Moto – GP250 1’41.184 4.616
22 Bastien CHESAUX Matteoni Racing 1’41.685 5.117
23 William DUNLOP Bigman Racing 1’42.235 5.667
24 Imre TOTH Team Toth Aprilia 1’43.637 7.069
25 Alex DEBON Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens 4’39.186 3’02.618