Simon unseats Smith in standings
Rider celebrates 125cc victory - one lap too soon!
Julian Simon replaced Bradley Smith at the top of the 125cc world championship standings after an unforgettable Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona.
Smith was eighth but Simon came fourth after throwing away victory with a disastrous blunder with one lap left.
He lost count and celebrated crossing the line with one lap still to go.
He was promptly passed by other riders but looked to have come third, only to be ejected from the winners' enclosure after losing a photo-finish decision.
Italy's Andrea Iannone won the race in a time of 41 minutes, 10.494 seconds, more than two seconds clear of Nico Terol in second place.
Sergio Gadea finished third, one-hundredth of a second ahead of Simon.
Smith was never in serious contention, having started the race from seventh spot, while Simon began on pole.
The 18-year-old from Oxfordshire went into the race with a 3.5 point lead over Simon in the standings, and now trails him by 1.5 points, but will be counting his blessings after Simon's bizarre and costly blunder.
Catalunya 125cc Grand Prix result:
1 A Iannone (Ita) Aprilia 41 minutes 10.494 seconds
2 N Terol (Spn) Aprilia 41:12.739
3 S Gadea (Spn) Aprilia 41:12.824
Selected other:
8 B Smith (GB) Aprilia 41:21.318
125cc world championship standings:
1 J Simon (Spn) Aprilia 84 points
2 B Smith (GB) Aprilia 82.5
3 A Iannone (Ita) Aprilia 71.5
Catalunya 250cc Grand Prix result:
1 A Bautista (Spa) Aprilia 41mins 09.018secs
2 H Aoyama (Jpn) Honda 41:16.203
3 H Barbera (Spn) Aprilia 41:16.300
250cc world championship standings:
1 A Bautista (Spain) Aprilia 108 points
2 H Aoyama (Japan) Honda 96
3 H Barbera (Spain) Aprilia 75
