Hiroshi Aoyama will not only be replacing injured Yonny Hernandez in this weekend’s final MotoGP round of the season at Valencia, but the Japanese rider has been confirmed with the Avintia Blusens team for the 2013 season.
For Aoyama, who was the last 250cc World Champion back in 2009, it will be a return to the MotoGP paddock after spending a difficult and injury packed rookie season riding for Interwetten Honda and then he switched to Gresini in 2011, but his team mate, the late Marco Simoncelli dominated the scene and the technical attentions of HRC.
In 2012 he tried his luck in World Superbikes with Honda’s Superbike Team, but the move and above all the results were well below everyone’s expectations.
“First of all I want to thank the Avintia Blusens team for giving me the opportunity to return to the MotoGP World Championship, where I have had my best results as a rider.
The team has worked hard this year to develop a new bike and have made great progress.
I hope I can help continue the development of the bike and I am convinced that we can do good things together.
I’m excited to get back into action in this category and test the CRT.
I also want to thank the Honda World Superbike team for giving me permission to ride at the Valencian GP, despite having a contract with them until end of season.
I will give the maximum next season, because recent years have not been very good for me.
I return with great enthusiasm and am eager to show my full potential,” said Aoyama.
Strangely enough, the expected announcement that Hector Barbera – who personally confirmed his move to the CRT team -has yet to be officialized.
Yonny Hernandez has been rumored to be in line to ride Gresini’s CRT machine – Dorna seems to be insisting on keeping the popular Colombian rider on the grid, while Ivan Silva could end up being Avintia’s test rider again or he could return to the CEV.