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Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista extended his lead in the 250cc World Championship standings with victory in the Catalan GP.

Hiroshi Aoyama finished second after passing third-placed pole-sitter Hector Barbera on the final lap.

Bautista has 108 points and now leads Aoyama (96) by 12 points, with Barbera (75) third and Mattia Pasini (64) fourth.

Reigning world champion Marco Simoncelli (61), reportedly set to ride a Honda in MotoGP next season, crashed out from second position and drops from third to fifth.

The Spanish fans celebrated that incident after the Italian's much-publicised spat with Bautista in the previous round at Mugello, which led to Simoncelli being given a suspended ban.

Pole sitter Barbera led off the line but soon dropped back, with Bautista taking over P1 and Simoncelli second.

Then came the crash; Simoncelli rejoined at the back but retired a few laps later.

Bautista built a gap at the front while Pepe World Aprilia rider and Mugello winner Pasini worked his way up to second before Barbera took P2 back from him.

He was then overtaken by Aoyama with three laps to go - and the Japanese, who suffered problems in the first half of the race which limited his performance, sneaked past Barbera as the corners ran out.

MotoGP Catalunya: Watch highlights of the MotoGP, 125cc and 250cc races on British Eurosport or the Eurosport Player at 19:30 on Sunday; Also available on your PC via the Player are the complete races, without commentary - click on the link under the photo to subscribe

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport