Julián Simón
Julián Simón Sesmero is a Spanish motorcycle racer. He is best known for winning the 2009 125cc World Championship.
Career
Born in Villacañas, Toledo, Spain, Simón began his racing career racing for Honda in the 2002 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season at the Spanish Grand Prix. In 2003 he raced for Malaguti before switching to Aprilia in 2004 and KTM in 2005. He won the 2005 125cc British Grand Prix.
In 2007, Simón raced in the 250cc class for the Repsol Honda team, before riding a KTM in 2008.
In 2009, Simón signed with the Mapfre Aspar team to compete in the 125 class. He famously celebrated winning a race a lap before the race finished, allowing himself to be overtaken. He eventually finished fourth. He was dominant at the subsequent Sachsenring race, dominating both wet qualifying and the dry race. This set the tone for a dominant season in which he clinched the title by overtaking closest rival Bradley Smith on the final lap at Phillip Island. He then also beat Smith to win the final two races of the year.
Moto2 World Championship
For 2010, Simón stepped up to the new Moto2 class with Mapfre Aspar, initially on an RSV chassis but switching to Suter after the first two rounds. He scored his first podium – and his team's first podium – in the class at the French round at Le Mans, moving into fourth place in the championship standings.
Career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Races by year