M2: San Marino GP: Gresini Racing preview

ELIAS STILL THE MAN TO BEAT IN MOTO2

ELIAS STILL THE MAN TO BEAT IN MOTO2 Thu, 02 September 2010

The unstoppable rise of Toni Elias remains on course after a dominant performance at Indianapolis that extended his lead at the top of the Moto2 standings despite a difficult weekend because of illness. The Spaniard was helped by the dedicated support of the team but he put himself through the mill to take his third consecutive win. Just a few days later he travels to Misano looking to consolidate his position as World Champion elect, at a circuit that lies on the doorstep of Team Gresini's racing headquarters. Vladimir Ivanov will also be at Misano but he will be unable to ride due to injuries sustained in a crash at Indianapolis, when he fractured his right leg. Taking his place on the Team Gresini Moriwaki will be Japanese rider Tatsuya Yamaguchi, who was born in Saitama, Japan, on the 11th February 1976.

Toni Elias "The weekend at Indianapolis was really difficult and I never thought it could end the way it did. Only myself and the Clinica Mobile doctors know how bad I really was but they gave me great support and helped a lot towards the result. I was also a little lucky with the way the race was cut short but I don't think that takes anything away from my performance. Now we go to Misano and I want to continue in the same way, to give the team and Moriwaki more rewards for the great job they are doing. I have never gone well at Misano so I hope we can turn that around this year."

Fausto Gresini "Misano comes at a great time for Elias and the team. The win at Indianapolis is another unforgettable chapter in the history of this fantastic season. It was a victory Toni had to suffer to achieve but he did so with his trademark determination. Toni is in extraordinary form this season and I hope that he can be amongst the frontrunners again at our home circuit. He is the clear leader of the championship but we still want to take things race by race and only allow ourselves to think a little bit about the title. I am sorry for Vladimir Ivanov that he can't be on track this weekend because of the fracture to his right leg."

-source: gresini racing