 Melandri became the youngest 250cc world champion at the age of 20 years and 74 days.Melandri ended the season with 298 points from nine race wins, three second-place finishes and one fourth-place finish.Nieto finished second in the standings with 241 points and four wins, followed Honda's Roberto Rolfo and rookie Toni Elías with 219 and 178 points respectively.