ELIAS MAKES CONFIDENT RETURN, XAUS STILL SEARCHING FOR CRUCIAL
EDGE
First day of practice at the US Grand Prix. MotoGP returns
to the United States 11 years after its last visit, at a circuit
with the same track as before, but with significant modifications
to run-off areas to improve safety, with standards now much
higher thanks mainly to the riders' input. Rubén Xaus
and Toni Elías, teammates at Fortuna Yamaha MotoGP,
have now both ridden the track, the former attempting to revive
his fortunes here on a superbike, and the latter riding at
a circuit he has dreamt about since a young age. The first
of the two sessions was extended to two hours with a ten-minute
break in the middle, so that the 'rookies' at the track could
learn its difficult lines.
TONI ELIAS
Free 1: 16th, 1'27'263, +2.716 from pole
Free 2: 14th, 1'25'574, +1.346 from pole
Combined: 14th position
Toni Elías' position speaks for itself. Between the
first and second session he improved his time by 1.370 seconds,
and taking into account that he is returning from a long injury
which he is still not fully recovered from, "I'm happy.
the track is technical and complicated and my left wrist is
still not at 100%, and is hurting. The track is mainly left
handers and you can imagine the effort needed. We have done
some good work, calmly and making small steps forward. In
the near two months I have been absent, I obviously haven't
stopped my physical training, but I can feel the pain in braking
and on the banking. The radius isn't what hurts me, just the
scaphoid. I am also happy because this track is legendary
for me. i saw my childhood heroes ride here, and I always
dreamt about emulating them. With respect to the bike's set-up,
we still need to improve, even if the progress from morning
to afternoon was big. With regards to safety I have to say
that in coming years, things need to be changed."
RUBEN XAUS
Free 1: 15th, 1'26'392, +1.845 from pole
Free 2: 17th, 1'26,441, +2.164 from pole
Combined: 17th position
The Barcelona rider set similar times in both sessions, losing
some ground
in the afternoon time sheets even though his general pace
improved.
"The first session was long so that several riders who
hadn't been to the track could get used to it. We have worked
on set-up and at the same time I tried to remember my reference
points, because I haven't raced here since 2003 when I won
one of the rounds of Superbikes. However with the Yamaha everything
is different; i'm not at all comfortable. I'm looking, but
can't find the sensations I want to have on the bike and which
will let me go faster. I'm going out in every session to find
these sensations and also to enjoy myself, but I still don't
have it. I like the track and I know how to go quick; I'll
keep on trying."
Antonio Jiménez, Toni Elias's Chief Mechanic
"To be honest, after two months out it's difficult to
return. But we know that Toni is very brave and wants to give
his best always. Although he is in pain, he is working hard
to be as high up as possible. This is a complicated track,
taking into account that he is coming back from injury. There
is a lot of work ahead of us to get a stable bike which will
allow Toni to keep a good rhythm up."
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