MOTOGP » 250: Simoncelli resists Kallio at Valencia

Farewell to the orange machines, at least they went down fighting. I for one will mourn the death of the 250s this time next year, as I believe it is the purest road racing formula of the current age. A fine mix of power in a light weight chassis giving up and coming riders experience in setup, race-craft and high corner speeds, the new 600s will have some job on their hands to provide the solid grounding to young GP riders that this series has.

I hope the 250 class (or Aprilia Cup if you will) is strong next year and I hope the teams bother to stick around past ''09.

Yes, the 250s are my favourites and I agree they represent the purest form of road racing. I'm extremely disappointed that we are losing them.

Kallio is a great and entertaining rider, normally not a fast starter but edges his way to the front.
He does however have his share of oddball crashes, often on his own in situations where you wouldn't expect it, like when leading a race by a great margin.
Is that a lapse of concentration? I don't know, but he should find a solution because I don't think there is a lot of room for error on a satellite Ducati in MotoGP either...

Wrecking the 250's proves that Dorna have no hart for racing, the scraps between Simoncelli, Bautista, Barbera and Kallio this year have been better than many a MotoGP race. KTM's premature pullout and the lack of tv coverage and thus sponsorship will effectively finish them off, deliberately.
What a sad way of saying goodbye to a race class that has been the core of motorcycle racing for decades.

Another brilliant race for Simoncelli just to put beyond doubt that he is "The Man" this season. When I posted congratulations about his World Championship win last week quite a few disagreed with that. Why? Get real, he's done the best job this year with not the best bike, but the bike with the best rider on it.
I will agree with "The Morgue" comments above. With the loss of Eurosport
coverage I fear the worst for next season. What are Dorna thinking about?

I did read somewhere, maybe MCN, about Eurosport having some sort of coverage next year but I can't remember the details/whether it is actually true. I can watch it on BBC interactive still, which thankfully doesn't have the Parrish-Cox commentary line up.

Must admit Kimi, I thought Simo' was just an average racer with delusions that he actually thinks he's Rossi! The lads got his WC now which is well deserved and looking at the size of him and his style a career on the bigger machines surely beckons. Just hope he drops the image....

At least there are some of us brave souls keeping 250cc replica strokers on the road, sod the emission laws!

Simoncelli just never had the bike he deserved, plus his immense body gets in the way
Getting decent equipment (LE+RSA=1) was instrumental in becoming champ this year, though he is still a bit 'rough' in racing, both tactically and in overtaking. I think it's great that he and Bautista stay on for a year, more good battles to follow,
two totally different riders (battering ram vs. frail antelope) but equally fast
Only thing... where and when will we see them on tv

It is obvious that Dorna is only the mouthpiece of the Honda corporation and will do exactly what Honda want. Honda could develop a fast 250 two stroke (in fact they have one) but the idiots have decided that a 600 four cylinder fourstroke developing half the horsepower per litre and having 3 or 4 times as many components is progress. Progress my *****
As for Eurosport, they will be missed especially Randy's fight with the English language, but I won't miss Toby Moody or the adverts. Perhaps Parish could pair with Julian Ryder and dump tin-top Charlie.
The 250s and 125s are live, including all qualifying sessions on BBC digital.
Simoncelli and worthy WC. SAD to see KTM go.

Have to say that it was Mika Kallio who did this race! He put his KTM to limit and over it. He injured his finger but is able to test Pramac Ducati Desmosedici GP8 today.

Good fight and show Mika!!!