Elías smiling after best result of the year

Monday, 6 July 2009

Much was expected of Toni Elías this year with good support from HRC on his return to the San Carlo Honda Gresini team so he was relieved to have finally got a good result at round eight.

Toni Elias picked up his best result of the 2009 season so far with sixth place at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday, matching his position on the starting grid with a gritty ride, which featured a long battle with a similarly revived Nicky Hayden – who eventually achieved his own season best in fifth spot.

The San Carlo Honda Gresini rider said of his fight with Hayden, “Finally I finished sixth and Nicky was very strong. I tried right up until the last corner but I couldn’t pass him, and although I wanted more, to be higher up, I think we have to be happy with sixth because it’s our best result this season.”

On the improvements he made in California he continued, “We are thinking positively, we must continue working like this. We are doing well, every race we are getting closer and I hope to take that next step to get closer to the best riders.”

“I was hoping the front guys would be a little slower than that and allow us to challenge them but the pace was very quick so compliments to them. In general this weekend has been much better than previous races and so was the result, but we always want more.”

Giving an honest preview of the next round in Germany, Elías concluded, “Normally I don’t like Sachsenring because when I’ve raced there I’ve always had some kind of injury. I hope now that I’m fit I can have a good race there and enjoy the circuit more.”