Elias Officially to Gresini Moto2

Monday, January 18, 2010

RSS

Font:

Email a Friend

*Email Addresses (up to 5):

Personal Message:

*Your Name:

*Your Email Address:

Send me a copy of this email

* Indicates a required field

Email addresses will only be used to send this message. They will not be used for promotional purposes. See our Privacy Policy.

San Carlo Gresinis Toni Elias ran near the front for part of the race at Valencia but eventually finished in sixth at Valencia.

Elias (24) leads Colin Edwards, Randy de Puniet and Nicky Hayden in Valencia at the final round of the 2009 MotoGP Series. Now he'll be with the same team, but in Moto2 for 2010.

Toni Elias will stay with Team Gresini Honda for 2010, the squad for which he rode this past year in MotoGP, only moving down a class to ride in the all-new Moto2 division. It’s been known for some time that the Spaniard has been in talks with the team, Elias even testing the bike following the final Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain. And now it’s official.

Gresini released a statement today that he would join Moto2 class-rookie Vladimir Ivanov to make up the two-rider squad. It’s believed Elias was holding out to try and say in the premiere MotoGP class, but when all options dried up he decided to go Moto2 racing. The Gresini team will use Moriwaki-built MD600 chassis to house the spec-Honda engines. Considering his Grand Prix background and results, which includes a single MotoGP win, Elias will no doubt be a title favorite.

"I am very pleased to continue racing with Team Gresini because it is like a family to me,” Elias said in the release. “Alongside Moriwaki we are beginning a new adventure in Moto2. We are extremely confident about the project and we will all work with great determination to get the maximum results possible. "

Ivanov, a new name to the series, won the 2003 and 2004 Russian Supersport titles, while also notching podiums in the German Supersport Series from ’06 through ’08 and rode in the Italian Supersport Series in ’09. While not an overwhelmingly impressive resume, word is Ivanov brings with him Russian funding to the team, something which goes far in today’s tough racing economy.

"It is a great moment for me to be joining Team Gresini's Moto2 project because it is one of the most prestigious teams in the World Championship,” Ivanov said in the statement. “I have lots of experience on a Supersport bike and actually rode one last year in the Italian Championship so I am sure that will help me go fast on the Moto2. I am very excited to be riding alongside such an experience rider as Toni Elias and I can't wait to get out on track. Hopefully I can compete for some good results."

Toni Elias on his ninth-place: Taking into account where we started from and the problems we had this weekend this is a decent result for us and Im satisfied. MotoGP - Losail

With his previous MotoGP results and indisputable talent, Elias looks to be a title favorite for the Moto2 class next year,

Said team owner Fausto Gresini: "The Moto2 project is very interesting for our team and we are looking forward to working closely with Moriwaki . I am really pleased to be going into such a new project with an experienced rider in Toni Elias and a rookie in Vladimir Ivanov. Having Toni as our lead rider is a source of great motivation for everybody and his experience and professionalism will no doubt rub off on Vladimir and help him. Elias is a rider we know well and we have enjoyed great moments with him - he is determined, hard-working and professional and he is prepared to work on development with us. He has everything in place to be competitive at every race and there is no reason why the title should not be his target. For Vladimir Ivanov this is a completely new challenge and he is already feeding off the enthusiasm this team has transmitted to riders over the years. I am sure he is in the right place to enjoy good results. He has lots of experience in Supersport and that should help him adapt easily to Moto2. "

Midori Moriwaki, managing director of Moriwaki Racing, said he would like to “thank Team Gresini for choosing the Moriwaki MD600 as their bike for the competitive Moto2 class. It is a very important collaboration for Moriwaki because Team Gresini has great pedigree in the World Championship and also great experience. We are pleased and excited to be joining them as chassis constructors and we hope our collaboration can bring something extra to the Moto2 class and help attract lots of fans to this new series."

2010 MotoGP Gallery

Latest MotoGP Racing News

See More MotoGP Racing News

View all articles by Steve Atlas
View all articles in MotoGP 2010 News

Comments

GR -Follow-up January 23, 2010 01:22 PM
To start, MG, I didn't change my position on what I said in my first post I just tried to clarify it for better understanding to the masses, not just for you! I'd rather not see the guys that can't cut it in MOTOGP (has-beens, wash-ups, unwanteds) leave GP then move to WSB to take factory rides from upcoming talent due to contracts etc! The bottom line is that the riders that have the skill/talent for MOTOGP will be first choice when it comes to landing a deal/ride/team with a factory regardless of budget or the economy! When former GP riders who are expected to outride the rest of the WSB field... DON'T... you can see exactly what I mean! Marco S. went over to WSB as a wild-card for Aprilia and he made Max re-evaluate his position! Max even said so in an interview! As far as MOTO2, I feel that it's the perfect economic situation to switch over from the 250cc class! How interesting will the racing be? Only time will tell if MOTO2 will be on a better level unlike AMA racing is now! I doubt it would ever be that horrible for the manufactures but the riders that can adjust their riding styles from a 600cc machine to a MotoGP machine will be the stars of tomorrow! To conclude, if you don't understand my point(s) after this... you never will because you simply don't want to! Now how long is it until the races start... I want to see REA clean the field on that CBR 1000rr! His guns are out blazing and he has plenty of ammo! -GR

MG -Agree January 23, 2010 12:39 AM
GR-I agree. Look at your first post, then your last. The tone is completely different. The real question is, with the new Moto2, is GP racing trying to save their bacon by making bikes more attainable by the mortals (both riders and teams)?

GR -Points January 22, 2010 05:07 AM
MG, I am not disputing your points but it seems that you're overlooking mine somewhat! The riders in MotoGP have the most potential for whatever team they may land! However, when that potential fails and they can't secure another ride in MotoGP they often go to WSB! All I am saying is that they don't have the right stuff for MotoGP teams to want them! Toni couldn't get another ride in MotoGP because all of the first drafts were already taken for the teams and bikes that were available for the budget due to the economy/cost of racing in MotoGP. Hayden couldn't ride the "Dani" styled Honda but he was still wanted by Ducati which says a lot about him! Not many other riders could land a factory ride like that regardless of what series he may already be racing in.

MG -One more thing January 21, 2010 10:20 AM
The top four get paid big bank from teams with sponsors with deep pockets. Their budget is much bigger then the other teams. Tell me that is not about it. Yes there will be back-markers in all races, but politics and economy has a lot to do with that.

MG -Developement January 21, 2010 10:17 AM
GR- Economics have a big part, GR Teams hedge their bets on who might be the next Doohan, Rossi, Agostini,etc. and in those bets they build their bikes around that potential star (Pedrosa is a glaring example). Hayden couldn't fit his dimensions, and style within the style and rules around what was developed specifically around Pedrosa. Does that make him a wash up? If you can only build a one-off bike around a certain desired criteria then you place your bet and hope for the best. WSB has bikes that are designed for the masses and are much more flexible for various riding styles. There is much more "play" in a $12K bike versus a astronomical price of a GP ride. Aside from that, you're also saying that there is only 17 worthy of that ride. If cost wasn't a factor, there would be more rides in MotoGP. I've been to many races, Indy and Laguna Seca GP's last year, and Miller's WSB; it's more of a "Race" in WSB.

GR -MotoGP vs WSB January 20, 2010 05:11 AM
to further clarify my comment prior, I've been a fan of all motor sports for a long time... especially motorbike racing! WSB is a awesome platform for riders to prove themselves to the factories and the rest of the world! But when you have former GP riders saturating the WSB field for rides... it makes it a lot harder for the up and coming riders to get a ride with a decent team! So what do the rookies do then? they must prove themselves even more so in lesser classes risking injury/time aging/money until they get a once in a lifetime shot! not everyone is the next Ben Spies! Take a look a Checa... how many great rides has he spoiled for himself! J.Rea made him look real bad in front of their team and the rest of the paddock!?

GR -MG comment January 20, 2010 05:03 AM
MG... you are missing the point so let me make it simple for you and all others that may misunderstand!!! Economics are what they are... Rossi, Stoner, and Lorenzo are not having problems finding a ride in MotoGP!? The top 4 guys in MotoGP are getting the job done every race weekend. So forget the expensive of MotoGP or the technology too for a spell will you, if Tony was getting the job done he would not have had so much trouble during the silly season! now take a look at a real rider... Ben Spies... economics played a part in his LATE decision to move up sooner? I think not!!! Yamaha had no problem demoting james did they! All the factories will put their money on the riders that get the job done... regardless of economics!

MG -Tony in Moto2 rebuffed comment January 19, 2010 02:26 PM
GR- I agree that Elias didn't have the stuff to be in "The Show," but to resign the WSB as a bunch of washed-up, has-beens tells me that you don't watch racing at all. MotoGP has a spot for a minimum of 17 riders (Dorma standard), which means that a lot of talent cannot compete. WSB has less expensive rides, yes, but their tech is top-notch. I'll argue that with less tech babysitting the riders, they might be more sound in technique (at least in the top echelon). I'm sorry if you can't grasp basic economics to understand the limits MotoGP inheritantly has built into it. I'm surprised it's still surviving even after their restructure. Go easy on Bayliss, Toseland, and the others...they are better than you at riding

GR -Tony in Moto2 January 19, 2010 11:04 AM
Tony can talk the "talk" like most experienced riders about his new ride in a lesser class! he knows that he didn't have the "right stuff" for any of the MotoGP teams to sign him so to save face... go to Moto2... instead of being kicked to somewhere more degrading! let's face it... MotoGP is top shelf and if you can't land a ride there after being in the series--- you are washed up and left out to dry in the stands! HAHAHAH jAMES TOSELAND anybody? Where did Max go??? World Superbike is the land of saving face for has-beens of MotoGP! check the rider line-up for the past 4 years...