German MotoGP: Hiroshi Aoyama leaves it late in 250 Sachsenring race

KTM rider Hiroshi Aoyama snatched victory on the final corner in a gripping 250 race at the Sachsenring in Germany.

This was the Japanese rider’s fourth victory in the 250 class and the first of the season by just 0.119secs from Finland’s Mika Kallio with his first 250 podium.

Andrea Dovizioso led from the start overtaking pole man Mika Kallio, with Alex De Angelis in third.

But it was Alex De Angelis who took control from lap five taking the circuit lap record as he went into the lead with a 1:34.762. He held on to a marginal lead almost all the way to the chequered flag but just could not do quite enough for the win.

Behind him other riders battled it out for the remaining podium spots. Andrea Dovizioso looked like he would finish second as he sat about 0.3secs behind Alex De Angelis. On lap nine Hiroshi Aoyama passed third place Mika Kallio to take third until he slipped back two places on lap 14.

Hector Barbera and Mika Kallio took advantage of Aoyama’s mistake, but the Japanese rider was not going to settle for that and fought back to third by lap 17.

The gap was closing on second placed Andrea Dovizioso until KTM’s Aoyama took his place on lap 18. But he left it until the dying seconds to take Alex De Angelis on the final corner and Mika Kallio also saw the gap and a chance to knock De Angelis down the third.

Britain’s pair of Eugene Laverty (Honda) and Dan Linfoot (Aprilia) were running in 20th and 21st at the beginning of the race. Dan Linfoot was the first to come off on lap seven with Eugene Laverty also sliding across the track on lap 20.

Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) did not have the best day of his 250 career when he took a trip to the gravel trap on lap three. He did restart to eventually finish 17th.

Another high-profile casualty was Julian Simon who came off his Repsol Honda on lap 14 out of sixth place.

Jorge Lorenzo still leads the championship by 20 points following his fourth place finish in the German MotoGP 250 race.

 

MotoGP 250 race results:

1. Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN KTM 41:16.191
2. Mika KALLIO FIN KTM + 0.119
3. Alex DE ANGELIS RSM APRILIA + 0.274
4. Jorge LORENZO SPA APRILIA + 0.579
5. Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA HONDA + 1.296
6. Hector BARBERA SPA APRILIA + 11.851
7. Marco SIMONCELLI ITA GILERA + 17.308
8. Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN HONDA + 22.309
9. Thomas LUTHI SWI APRILIA + 28.858
10. Roberto LOCATELLI ITA GILERA + 35.983
11. Aleix ESPARGARO SPA APRILIA
12. Shuhei AOYAMA JPN HONDA
13. Dirk HEIDOLF GER APRILIA
14. Alex BALDOLINI ITA APRILIA
15. Jules CLUZEL FRA APRILIA
16. Taro SEKIGUCHI JPN APRILIA
17. Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA APRILIA
18. Fabrizio LAI ITA APRILIA
19. Ratthapark WILAIROT THA HONDA