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VALENCIA, Spain: Japan's Hiroshi Aoyama claimed the 250cc world title at the season-ending Valencia motorcycling Grand Prix here on Sunday.
The title-challenge had gone down to the wire with 28-year-old Aoyama taking a 21-point lead over Italy's Marco Simoncelli into the race.
The Honda rider needed to finish 11th or higher to secure his first championship and the final 250cc title before the category is replaced by the new Moto2 class from next year.
And he secured victory by finishing seventh, despite going off the track on lap nine and dropping down to 11th. His task was however made easier when Simoncelli crashed out while leading with seven laps left.
Spaniard Hector Barbera won the race ahead of compatriot and Aprilia teammate Alvaro Bautista with Italy's Raffaele De Rosa third on a Honda.
Aoyama and Barbera were the only competitors this season to finish all the races. This consistency, along with four wins in 16 Grands Prix, helped the Japanese rider overhaul Gilera's Simoncelli, winner of seven races.
- AFP/yb
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