M2: Malaysia GP: Gresini Racing qualifying report

FRONT ROW FOR FOURTH FASTEST ELIAS AT SEPANG

Moto2 World Championship leader Toni Elias gets his first chance to clinch the title tomorrow and he launches his bid from the front row of the grid after qualifying fourth fastest. The Spaniard was somewhat disappointed with a performance that was slightly below his usual high standards but he remains convinced that a few small set-up improvements in tomorrow's warm-up can put him in good shape to challenge for a top result. The championship remains the most important objective but for Elias the main focus is on a good race.

Toni Elias (4th 2' 09" 520) "I am not happy because I wanted a better position than this. We are on the front row and that is important but tonight we need to sit down and think about how we can improve. I am a headstrong person and so is Fabrizio Cecchini and we are sure that we can make the changes required to have a good race without worrying about the championship. Hopefully we can find a good set-up and if we achieve that we'll be fighting for the win again, which is the only way to make sure of the title."

Vladimir Ivanov (33rd 2' 11" 496) "I improved my lap time but not the position and I'm starting from near the back, which I am a little disappointed about. Anyway, tomorrow I will do my best to make up positions."

Fausto Gresini "It definitely wasn't a brilliant session for Toni and tomorrow won't be an easy race but this isn't the first time we have faced difficulties so we have to stay as calm as possible, do what we can to get the best result and above all make sure we finish the race. We don't need to do anything crazy and we have to think about securing a good result. At the same time we can't put all our energy into winning the race at any cost because we have already won enough! "

-source: gresini racing