M2: Aragon GP: Gresini Racing qualifying report

Toni Elias escaped unhurt by an untimely crash in qualifying practice this afternoon but the Spaniard's grid position was hampered as a result, with the series leader set to line up in twelfth place for tomorrow's race. Elias returned to the track after his low-speed spill but the Team Gresini man was unable to improve and was forced to accept a starting position that is well below his true potential. Michele Pirro, meanwhile, is making the most of his opportunity as a replacement for Vladimir Ivanov on board the Team Gresini Moriwaki. After some difficulties on the first day the Italian got to grips with the new circuit today and clocked the eighth fastest time, sealing a second row start for tomorrow.

Toni Elias (12th 1'55"838) "That clearly wasn't a good session but before the crash I was running near the front. Unfortunately the crash and the time we had to spend in the garage as a result broke my rhythm and when we did return to the track we had a problem with the tyres. When I crashed I was on a soft tyre so I could have probably done an even faster lap. By the time I went back out it was practically spent and there was a lot of traffic in the way, so in the end I didn't get chance to improve my lap time. Unfortunately that is Moto2 and one day you can be up at the front and the next day you're at the back. Anyway, the race is tomorrow and I hope to have a good start and stay out of any trouble."

Michele Pirro (8th 1' 55" 752) "I think I have made a good debut and if I had the opportunity to have done a few more laps here the result could have been even better. Anyway, I have to be more than happy with this. Obviously everything is new to me and I have a lot of things to learn but the second row is not bad considering that I have an injured wrist and I actually had to come in early because of the pain. I am sure the race will be another thing altogether because it will be demanding and long. I hope I get and good start and the wrist holds out because that's the biggest problem at the moment."

Fausto Gresini "Elias' crash wasn't helpful because it restricted him to twelfth place and a third row start tomorrow. It's a shame but maybe it will make it even more fun tomorrow! Hopefully he can get a good start because he has a decent race pace so I hope he can use it to challenge for a good result. I'm happy for Michele Pirro though. It is his debut in the category and he showed up well, I was pleased to see him looking so strong and I take my hat off to him. It is not easy to perform like that on your debut, especially with an injured wrist."

-source: gresini racing