M2: Malaysia GP: Gresini Racing rac report

TONI ELIAS CROWNED MOTO2 WORLD CHAMPION

The dream became a reality for Toni Elias today, the Spaniard wrapping up the first ever Moto2 World Championship title with three races to spare. It is a historic achievement for Toni, Team Gresini and Moriwaki and a fitting reminder of the 250cc title won here with Daijiro Kato nine years ago. Sepang is a special circuit for Fausto Gresini, who showed passion and support for the new category since the start, and he was keen to give credit to his entire team.

Toni Elias (Moto2 World Champion) "When I crossed the line and saw all the guys on the edge of the track with the World Champion flag I got emotional and started to cry because my dream had become a reality. Then I thought of something my uncle told me before he died four years ago. "I will be watching you from the sky when you cross the line on the day you become World Champion." It has been an incredible, marvellous, fantastic day. So many people come to mind -- those who are unfortunately no longer with us and those who are here today, including my parents and my sister, who are always behind me, my team, Moriwaki, my family, friends and everybody who has worked with me and helped me achieve this objective. I want to share this day with all of you. I am the World Champion and so is my team. I have realised my dream and I want to be everybody's World Champion."

Fausto Gresini "For me this is a memorable and fantastic day. It hasn't been an easy weekend because there is always a lot of tension when the decisive moment finally arrives but in the end we have realised a dream with a brilliant Toni Elias. We have lifted the title here in Malaysia just as we did nine years ago with Daijiro Kato and that is a wonderful thing. We have won it again with Fabrizio Cecchini and all the guys who worked together with Daijiro so it's hard to think of anything better. It is important to us to have won the Moto2 title because it is a concept we believed in from the start. Toni had the belief in our team and the potential of Moriwaki, we put it all together and we have won the title with races to spare, which I didn't honestly expect. I want to thank everybody who has believed in us, especially Elias, Moriwaki, who have always supported us, our sponsors and our fans. It is a day that brings incredible emotion because we all put so much passion into this job and a success such as this makes all the problems and unhappy moments worthwhile. Heartfelt thanks again to everybody."

-source: gresini racing