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Hiroshi Aoyama won the Dutch TT 250cc and subsequently moved to the top of the riders standings after rival Alvaro Bautista crashed out on the final lap at Assen.

The pair had worked their way steadily up the order to sit second and third behind reigning 250cc world champion Marco Simoncelli by the halfway point of the 24 laps.

Both blasted past the Gilera rider soon after and disappeared into the distance, with Bautista shadowing Aoyama's Honda in preparation for a last lap showdown.

But the race was decided just before then, when Aoyama pushed too hard into the final chicane on the penultimate lap and ran slightly wide, killing his momentum.

Bautista came barrelling in behind on the racing line and slammed into the back of the slowing Aoyama, launching his Aspar Aprilia into the air (pictured) with such force that the front tyre was knocked off the rim.

Bautista was down and out, while Aoyama nursed his damaged machine home for his second victory of the season and now leads the unlucky Bautista by 13 points.

Simoncelli had lost out to pole sitter Hector Barbera in the closing stages, but Bautista's exit meant the 2010 MotoGP rider claimed an unexpected podium.

The 250cc World Championship does not take part in the forthcoming Laguna Seca round, meaning their next event will be the German Grand Prix on July 19.

It was Aoyama's second victory of the season, with Bautista left to rue the unfortunate incident which saw him relinquish his advantage.

Dutch TT: HIGHLIGHTS at 9pm on Saturday 27 on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Results: Dutch TT 250cc

1. Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan) Honda 40 mins 44.008 secs

2. Hector Barbera (Spain) Aprilia 40:48.432

3. Marco Simoncelli (Italy) Gilera 40:54.347

4. Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Aprilia 40:55.391

5. Roberto Locatelli (Italy) Gilera 40:55.604

6. Alex Debon (Spain) Aprilia 40:58.273

7. Karel Abraham (Czech Republic) Aprilia 41:01.990

8. Hector Faubel (Spain) Honda 41:03.020

9. Ratthapark Wilairot (Thailand) Honda 41:04.934

10. Raffaele De Rosa (Italy) Honda 41:05.041

11. Mike Di Meglio (France) Aprilia 41:16.136

12. Lukas Pesek (Czech Republic) Aprilia 41:25.337

13. Alex Baldolini (Italy) Aprilia 41:49.329

14. Valentin Debise (France) Honda 41:56.459

15. Imre Toth (Hungary) Aprilia +1 Laps

Crash.Net / Eurosport