AN IMPRESSIVE ELIAS SHOWS HIS POTENTIAL AT LOSAIL
Toni Elias enjoys superb first day of qualifying at the Grand
Prix of Qatar. FORTUNA YAMAHA rider Toni Elias battled with
World Champion Valentino Rossi to post the fastest time on
the first day of qualifying at the Grand Prix of Qatar. The
Spaniard is reaping the rewards of the new set-up he tried
at Sepang last week and found a great rhythm on his M1. Elias
ended the session in second position, whilst team-mate Ruben
Xaus, who also worked hard on his Yamaha, ended up in 16th
position.
Toni Elias, 2nd
Free session 1: 2’02.213, 8th
Free session 2: 1’58.860, 2nd, + 0.146
“After Japan I was not all happy and in Malaysia we
did a good job as we decided to try something new. The radical
change really helped and so we have carried it on here. I
am surprised, but I think we could have done it before. I
can’t ask for more. MotoGP is a difficult class and
things change a lot from one circuit to the next, but I am
hoping to continue like this. When you begin to ride well
you enjoy yourself, things become easier. Other seasons a
similar thing has happened with the chassis set-up for whatever
reason. When you find a good centre of gravity - that is when
you go fast. Second today does not guarantee me anything,
I will keep working hard.”
Rubén Xaus
Free session 1: 2’04.337, 14th
Free session 2: 2’02.809, 16th, + 3.375
“There’s no way that I will be able to repeat
my podium from last year here considering the situation we
are in now, but we are still working hard so that I can enjoy
myself on the bike. All I can say is that we are doing everything
I can to get the best out of myself.”
Hervé Poncharal, FORTUNA YAMAHA Team Manager
“It’s easy to talk with hindsight, but I have
always believed in Toni. Up until Le Mans we were working
well but after the accident he’s found it tough, because
for a rider it is really important to have your head straight.
We’ve had problems at a lot of races but since Malaysia
Toni has been excellent. He doesn’t have a race result
to show for it yet but he is more focused and consistently
near the top. I couldn’t have imagined that Toni would
be fighting with Valentino for the best time but I did expect
him to be up there amongst the top positions.”
|
