XAUS UNABLE TO USE WINNING EXPERIENCE AT LAGUNA SECA, ELIAS
HAS MINOR CRASH AND STILL FEELS PAIN IN WRIST
The moment of truth came around in the form of the qualifying
practices, and Toni Elias and Rubén Xaus will both
start tomorrow's United States Grand Prix from the sixth row
. The two Fortuna riders put in a lot of effort to reduce
their lap times; Rubén dropping a second with regards
to the free practices, but he was unable to improve on grid
position. Toni had a minor crash in the final minutes of the
timed session, still unable to make the most out of the soft
tyres.
Rubén Xaus
Free 3: 17th, 1'25'729, +2.011 from pole
Qualifying: 16th, 1'24,741, +2.071 from pole
The Barcelona rider improved his best time from free practice
by a second, but he is still at a disadvantage which he is
unable to resolve. "In the official session I took a
second off my best lap, but it wasn't enough to move far up
the grid. I like the track, the crowd, the atmosphere, but
of those riders who have done well before here in other categories,
unfortunately I'm the one who is now unable to show his talent.
I want to take some good memories away from here, if not i'll
have to be content with my Superbike victory here in 2003."
Toni Elias
Free 3: 15th, 1'25'449, +1.731 from pole
Qualifying : 17th, 1'25'462, +2.792 from pole
Toni stil had problems with his left wrist, with even more
pain than yesterday. He is not at 100%, but he is not shying
away from the job at hand, adapting to a track which he has
come to love. "The crash made things worse because we
weren't going well. I've got a problem with the set-up which
is proving hard for us to solve. it's my first year in the
class and I'm working hard to improve and to get a base to
work from. Added to that Laguna Seca is a complicated track.
I hope that the time we have left will allow me to find a
solution so i can go out in the race in the best shape possible."
Antonio Jiménez, Toni Elias' Chief Mechanic
"Toni has estly done a great job, but it's one thing
to ride with race tyres and get a rhythm going, and another
to stick on the qualifiers and take a half to one second off
your time. Toni is still short of being in a position to make
the most of the qualifying tyres. That's why he has the slight
crash. Tomorrow we will try and get a good start and pick
up points."
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