MOTOAMERICA SUPERBIKE CHAMPION TONI ELIAS
P132
INTERVIEW
He came just short in his debut
season, finishing third and seven
points short of the crown.
Elias went into 2017 on a
mission. He was armed not
only with a new GSX-R1000,
but with a change in rules, a
proper works superbike. The
mission was accomplished and
the outcome exceeded even his
expectations with 10 wins, 18
podiums (basically he was first,
second or DNF) to clinch the
title a round early at New Jersey
Motorsports Park.
"We expected a good situa-
tion because of the new bike,"
he said. "Last year we lost the
championship by only seven
points. Our goal was win, but we
didn't expect to win 10 races and
also many second positions, our
average of points was very high."
It's hard to compare titles
earned in one series, let alone
comparing a world champion-
ship in Moto2 to a national
superbike title in MotoAmerica.
But for Elias, this moment is the
pinnacle of his career.
"I think it's the best personal
moment in my career because I
have the experience to set up the
bike with the team, the calm to take
some decisions during the race and
during the practice," he says. "I did
some mistakes last year, also this
year, but we work with calm in the
race. Also racing with calm—risking
when we could risk and don't risk
when we couldn't."
The Good Life
Elias not only found happi-
ness at the track, he found
happiness in his new home in
the U.S. The first season he
started making the commute
from Europe. He then stayed
Top of their world championship classes
in 2010—(left to right) Elias, Jorge
Lorenzo and Marc Marquez.
"Our goal was win,
but we didn't expect
to win 10 races and
also many second
positions."
Photography
By
Gold
&
Goose
