It is on an official Suzuki GSX-R1000 entered by Yoshimura that we now find the man who had his hour of glory in Grand Prix on October 15, 2006 by winning the MotoGP race in Portugal with 0.002 ahead of Valentino Rossi . He ended his career in the World Championship in Valencia in 2015 by finishing twentieth in the Grand Prix, one tenth behind his Forward Racing teammate Loris Baz.
Elias, who will be 34 on March 26, then left for the United States to compete in the MotoAmerica championship organized by Wayne Rainey, where riders who are not necessarily very young hold the upper hand. He arrived to replace the injured Jake Lewis. The Spaniard won the first two races of 2016, held at the Circuit of The Americas in Texas. The winner of 17 Grands Prix (1 in MotoGP, 7 in Moto2, 7 in 250 and 2 in 125) then finished third in the US Championship last year with 6 victories and 304 points, behind winner Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha, 8 victories, 311 points) and the ineradicable Josh Hayes (Yamaha, 2 victories, 305 points).
This Friday, Elias discovered Thunderhill Raceway Park located in Willows, California, and rode the new Suzuki for the second time. He appreciated the traction, much less the entry into turns. The only big problem for Elias and his teammate Roger Lee Hayden was that they each only had one GSX-R until the first race which will take place in April at COTA.
« I understand the situation, Elias said. Suzuki works really hard to give us the best. The best now is a motorcycle for every rider. I can't take much risk. If I crash, I might destroy the bike. »
Unofficial time, provided by the teams:
- Toni Elias (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, 1:46.10
- Cameron Beaubier (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:46.28
- Roger Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike 1:46.80
- Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:47.25
- Josh Hayes (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:47.33
- Garrett Gerloff (Yam YZF-R6), Supersport, 1:47.64
- Bobby Fong (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, 1:48.20
- Bryce Prince (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:49.02
- JD Beach (Yam YZF-R6), Supersport, 1:49.17
- Michael Gilbert (Yam YZF-R6), Superstock 600, 1:51.50
Toni Elias interviewed by Jonathan Green
The second round of the Challenge Of New Jersey Superbike in full (the last lap between Elias and his teammate Hayden is spectacular)
