IN
THE
WIND
P40
ELIAS TO MAKE AFT DEBUT AT PERRIS
T
oni Elias, the recently
crowned 2017 MotoAmerica
Superbike Champion and former
Moto2 World Champion, will
make his American Flat Track de-
but at the Cycle Gear AFT Finals,
presented by Indian Motorcycle,
at Perris Auto Speedway in Per-
ris, California, October 7.
Elias, of the Yoshimura Suzuki
Team, is no stranger to flat track
racing but will have his hands full
when he goes up against the top
U.S. riders in the AFT Singles
class.
"I feel a lot of motivation be-
cause this is something new for
me, because it will be bigger than
Las Vegas Superprestigio and
bigger than the Barcelona race,"
Elias said. "I learned a lot in Ve-
gas which helped me a lot for the
two editions I raced in Barcelona.
Every year we are improving,
learning new things and I think
this will be a good way to improve
more, to continue learning and to
prepare for Barcelona this year.
And also, to enjoy a little bit now
that we are in the off season."
"Obviously, Toni enjoys the
flat track experience, and is
excited about the opportunity to
race the Perris finale," said Don
Sakakura, Senior Vice President
of Yoshimura R&D of America.
"Yoshimura will support Toni for
this event, and we are all looking
forward to the new experience!"
Elias will ride a specially
prepped Yoshimura Suzuki RM-
Z450. CN
KAWASAKI ANNOUNCES
2018 SX/MX TEAMS
K
awasaki has finalized its team plans for the 2018 AMA
Supercross and Pro Motocross season. Returning to
its Monster Energy Kawasaki factory team will be return-
ing riders Eli Tomac and Josh Grant. Tomac is the 2017
AMA 450MX National Champion and will be wearing the
number-one plate outdoors next year.
The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Team will, once again,
handle Kawasaki's 250cc racing effort. Returning riders
include Adam Cianciarulo, Joey Savatgy and Austin For-
kner. The biggest news here is that Martin Davalos will
be returning to the team after a stint with the Rockstar
Energy Husqvarna Team. CN
Toni Elias will
compete in the
Singles class at the
AFT final in Perris,
California.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
ANDREA
WILSON
Martin Davalos will return to the Monster
Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team in 2018.
