Aoyama, KTM win heart-stopping 250 showdown.

Hiroshi Aoyama took K🐼TM's first ever victory in the 250cc class at Turkey today, after one of the most breathtaking final laps of all time.

The Japanese was overtaken by both Alex de Angelis and Hector Barbera on either side on the flat-out charge to the final chicane onꦕ the last lap - then had the spectacular sight of bot🌼h riders colliding as they crossed lines in front of him!

Lorenzo and Aoyama crash at turn 1, Turkish 250GP, 2006
Lorenzo and Aoyama crash at turn 1, Turkish 250GP, 2006
© Gold and Goose

Hiroshi Aoyama took 🤪KTM's first ever victory in the 250cc class at Turkey today, after one of the most breathtaking final laps of all time.

The Japanese was overtaken by both Alex de Angelisಞ and Hector Barbera on either side on the flat-out charge to the final chicane on the last lap ꦕ- then had the spectacular sight of both riders colliding as they crossed lines in front of him!

de Angelis made a miraculous save as he pulled his bucking bike from the brink of no return, before spearin🌃g off onto the grass and somehow slowing down safely - from well over 100mph - on the run-off area, while Aoyama capitalised o𓂃n the chaos to retake the lead.

"I'm so happy for this result, both on my own behalf and for KTM. I 🃏was pushing all time, and the bike performed well to help me on my way," said Hiro after his second ever grand prix victory. "It was somewhat dangerous what happened on the final lap. Dovi opened the door, I went inside, and I was able to avoid the two coming round from the left and right."

Barbera fared better from the manoeuvre than de Angelis, keeping his bike on-track to take second place while Andrea𝔉 Dovizioso - who had exchanged the lead on a number of occasions with Barbera, De Angelis and Aoyama - completed the podium, and now leads the championship by two points.

"The team did a good job, we've not had a lot of ꦑluck in the past few races," said Hector. "I touched De Angelis at the end of the race, but this is racing, everyone's pushing and accidents happen. My dream is reality, and I'm r🔴eally happy."

"It was very dangerous, and it seems to be the sam🦩e riders involved in incidents like this all the time, de Angelis and Barbera," slammed Dovi. ⛦"I think that at the speeds we were going, it is too risky to make such manoeuvres. For me third position is good for the championship, in a race which was like a 125cc Grand Prix."

Roberto Locatelli once again made a dramatic comeback through the field, and would eventually finish the race in fourth, Yuki Takahashi and Sylvain Guintol🤪i completed the top six.

Meanwhile, a bizarre first corner collision with Aoyaಞma's younger brother Shuhei - who seemed not to turn as he arrived at t🦹he corner - knocked pre-race favourite and championship leader Jorge Lorenzo out of the race.

250cc top ten - Turkish Grand Prix:

1. H. Aoyama (KTM)
2. Barbera (Aprilia) +0.401secs
3. Dovizioso (Honda) +0.467secs
4. Locatelli (Aprilia) +0.641secs
5. Takahashi (Honda) +2.555secs
6. Guintoli (Aprilia) +10.554secs
7. Smrz (Aprilia) +12.534secs
8. Baldolini (Aprilia) +16.887secs
9. West (Aprilia) +17.348secs
10. Porto (Honda) +20.910secs

Davies (Aprilia) DNF

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