Suzuki racers Alvaro Bautista and Toni Elias took to the track this week for official MotoGP testing.
Bautista wearing new Shoei in Sepang
Former 125cc world champion, Bautista, is the sole Rizla Suzuki rider this year as he embarks on his second season in the elite class. The Spaniard, using a new design on his Shoei X-Spirit II for this test, was suffering from flu for the second consecutive test but remains positive.
Alvaro Bautista, Rizla Suzuki: “It seems like at this moment the bike has better durability than the rider! This has been bad luck to get sick at two consecutive tests – I feel very drained but I am confident that I will be ok tomorrow after maybe 12 hours sleep! But there was also some positive points today – my best lap was with race distance already completed on the tyres, so for sure I can go quicker with new tyres but today my condition was not the best for a ‘qualifying’ style lap. I’m frustrated but happy – we have improved the Suzuki quite a lot since the end of 2010.”
Reigning Moto2 champion, Elias, is still getting reacquainted with MotoGP power on his LCR Honda RC212V after a season onboard a 600cc. The Spaniard suffered a bout of flu during the test session held at the track earlier in the month, but is now healthy, upbeat and motivated at the task ahead.
Toni Elias, LCR Honda: “We still have a lot of work to do because I am struggling to find the right setting for me but this is normal as I am continuing my adaptation to the RCV.”
The three day test concludes today (February 24, 2011).
Shoei racer Toni Elias wrapped up the first ever Moto2 World Championship title with three races to spare on October 10 at Sepang, Malaysia.
Shoei's Toni Elias is 2010 Moto2 Champion
Despite starting the season with injuries, Elias has been the consistent and dominant force in the burgeoning class. Despite only 27, the former MotoGP race winner used his many years as a world championship rider to bring home the no.1 plate.
The Sepang race saw drama across the field, with Elias’ main rival Julian Simon saving a near highside only to crash later in the race. A fourth place finish from the Gresini rider was all he needed to create an unbeatable points margin.
Toni celebrated the championship by changing into some special leathers and a very special Shoei X-Spirit 2 helmet on the slow down lap, as well as changing his customary no.24 to a well-deserved no.1.
Elias' special championship Shoei
Toni Elias, 2010 Moto2 World Champion, said: “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.”
Congratulations Toni from all at Feridax (UK Shoei importer).
Shoei rider Toni Elias’ run of wins, which stretched to four before this weekend, came to an end yesterday (September 20) at the twelfth round of seventeen for the Moto2 class. 
The Spaniard crossed the line in fourth place – a result that is below his expectations but nevertheless good for his championship aspirations. Yesterday’s crash affected his grid position and after making a bad start, which saw him relegated back to 16th position on the opening lap, he gave the home fans plenty to cheer about with a rousing charge through the field. Michele Pirro made an impressive debut in the category, picking up points despite the pain caused by a wrist injury.
Toni Elias (4th) “We’re really happy because even though we finished fourth it feels like a win. Obviously I would have preferred it to be an actual win here at Aragon but we lost a lot of time yesterday because of the crash and there was an incident in the first corner of the race, which I managed to avoid but it dropped me back to 16th. I made up positions with every lap and with two to go I caught up with Talmacsi and Simon but couldn’t pass them. Anyway, as I said, fourth place is important for the championship because we didn’t lose too many points to our rivals. ”
The Misano GP saw Shoei riders, Toni Elias (Moto2) and Marc Marquez (125GP), each take their sixth win of the season to strengthen their respective championship positions.
Elias (top), Marquez (below)
Overshadowed by the tragic death of Shoya Tomizawa following an incident in the Moto2 race, Toni Elias increased his lead to 83 points in the championship.
Despite starting from pole position, Gresini rider Elias had to battle hard to take his fourth win in succession. He eventually crossed the line 1.969s clear of reigning 125cc champion and now second in the standings, Julian Simon.
In the 125cc class, Shoei rider, Marc Márquez took his sixth win of the season after a hard fought race.
The Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider extended his 125cc Championship lead to nine points over Nico Terol by leading his title rival across the line.
There are six remaining rounds of the 2010 MotoGP season.