Recently crowned 250 World Champion Hiroshi Aoyama has received a personal message of congratulations from Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan. Mr. Hiroshi AOYAMA We congratulate your World Champion title in FIM Road Racing World Championship. We believe that the World champion title is the evidence of accumulation of your everyday effort We also would like to congratulate very important persons, supporter, family, and team members. Japanese athletes’ activities in the world will give a dream and hope to young generation in Japan. We strongly wish your continuous success in your activity. Yukio Hatoyama The Prime Minister Hiroshi Aoyama said of the honour: “When I was told that I received a letter from the Prime Minister of Japan I couldn’t believe it. It’s a great honour and I’m very proud. Nowadays motorcycle sport is not so popular and I was really happy to know that the Prime Minister watched the race and wrote a letter addressed to me. I still haven’t realized that I won the World Championship and to receive such an important letter makes me realize the importance and the echo of this.” Aoyama was crowned 250 World Champion at the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday November 8. He scored four victories and a further three podium finishes aboard his Scot Honda RS250RW on his way to the title. Next year the 28-year-old Japanese ace moves up to the premier MotoGP World Championship, riding a Honda RC212V machine.