Visitors to Port Aventura in Salou, Spain's premier Theme Park are accustomed to twists, turns and high-speed thrills especially if they brave "Furius Baco" - the 0-85 mph in 3.5 seconds propulsive roller-coaster (the fastest in Europe). However, the final round of seven in the 2009 FIM Supermoto World Championship provided a select cast with another form of exhilaration, as the two last motos of the year for the S1 and S2 classes witnessed Frenchmen Thierry Van Den Bosch and Adrien Chareyre crowned, respectively.

Under sunny skies and t-shirt temperatures in mid-November, Thomas Chareyre (younger sibling) and Gerald Delepine, topped the podiums of the season-finale in S1 and S2, but the headlines deservedly belonged to the new champions at a curious event.

Forged within one of the large parking lot areas of the location, the GP - like much of this young sport it would seem - was a series of compromises. The set-up was impressive and well-ordered, but the track itself was condensed and badly in need of some aesthetic lifts (something aside from traffic cones), the spectacle was free for spectators, but the swarms of people inside the park itself would only have been wise to the occurrence thanks to the booming sound carried over the screams of plummeting teenagers, such was the lack of signage and promotion both within and on the periphery of Port Aventura. The sight of Supermoto in the tight, winding track was typically ferocious, but the closed curves did not help for overtaking, and Adrien Chareyre admitted as much in the post-event press conference.

"It was good to see a lot of people watching, but we must work on this track, because we have the space here to do much better."

The action highlight was provided by the younger Chareyre (Husqvarna), as he won both motos ahead of a determined Ivan Lazzarini (Honda); the pair enjoying a fruitful duel in the second affair, as the Italian lamented his lack of opportunities to pass. Both protagonists needed the checkered flag for a win and for Van Den Bosch to finish almost out of the top 10 for the red plate to be wrenched from the front of the eye-catching light-blue TM. Even though the "legend" of Supermoto was struggling with set-up and grip, he engaged his years of experience, stayed out of trouble and brought the SMR safely home in fifth on both occasions, for a three-point victory-margin. The 35-year old Van Den Bosch, who won the first of his record four World Championship in 2002 (the inaugural year of Supermoto as an FIM contest), delivered the maiden crown for the Italian TM factory with two wins and nine top-three results from 13 motos in spite of a weakened collarbone that he had fractured during the season while training.

"The end of the season has been very hard because of the injury, so it feels so good to get this title, it is my fourth one, but I think it was the most difficult," he said. "I really want to thank TM and 747 Motorsport team; this is a nice story for us."

In S2 Chareyre (Husqvarna) claimed his third crown in a row and the second in the division, and he sits behind Van Den Bosch as the second-most successful rider in Supermoto GP history. The 23-year-old Frenchman was seventh and second in Salou and, although he played second fiddle to perennial joker Delepine on the day, he was able to toast another momentous term with seven wins, missing the top three on only two occasions.

"I cannot say I'm getting used to being World Champion!" he said. "This year has been awesome for me, and I won the first four GP races, something that has never happened to me in my career. Today I took the title and I feel very proud for what we have done."

American Supermoto fans will be pleased to note that Mark Burkhart took his KTM to second place on the rostrum in his second appearance. The 29-year-old observing that his arrival in Spain a week before the race to acclimatize and train proved far more beneficial than his rapid trek to Italy three weeks prior.

The 2010 series will feature seven rounds and will begin in Italy on May 2.

2009 S1 World Championship standings

1. Thierry van den Bosch (FRA), TM 264

2. Thomas Chareyre (FRA), Husqvarna 261

3. Ivan Lazzarini (ITA), Honda 257

4. Mauno Hermunen (FIN), Husqvarna 235

5. Eddy Seel (BEL), Suzuki 210

2009 S2 World Championship standings

1. Adrien Chareyre (FRA), Husqvarna 298

2. Gerald Delepine (BEL) Husqvarna 263

3. Davide Gozzini (ITA) TM 248

4. Paolo Gaspardone Honda (ITA) 203

5. Edgardo Borella KTM (ITA) 188