VOL. 54 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 19, 2017 P131
fidence, everything changes in
a good, positive way," he said.
"Plus, positivity helps for doing
other things, solves problems,
helps you find new ways. It's
very important. When you are
so closed, so negative you
only find more negativity, more
shit. It's crazy, because the key
was the team and the bike; it
opened everything."
Crowning Achievement
At first breaking his win drought
in COTA was a big deal, but
as the wins followed Elias
wasn't happy until he did one
thing—win the championship.
The Tiger. The Missile.
His old moniker—Toni the
Tiger—at first glance is rather
cliché, but not when you factor
in that the nice guy off track is
absolutely ferocious on track.
His latest nickname in the
States—the Skud Missile—also
suits him, with his aggressive
riding style and different lines.
But no matter what you call him,
like all champions, he is highly
competitive and is absolutely
relentless. A lot of his wins are
come-from-behind miracles.
"Every move, I try to be very
precise. Maybe outside looks
sometimes crazy, but I'm work-
ing with position," he said. "My
character and my style is always
the strongest point at the end of
the race; and maybe the over-
takes and fights. I have some
good battles at the end. For
example, some races I struggle
because I lose contact with
the lead group, and then I tell
myself, 'don't give up, don't give
up, continue this pace because
they will reduce the pace and
after 5-6-7 laps.' And then that
happened and I could come
back and win the race."
Away from the track Elias
is all smiles, but at the
track he's all business.
Nicknamed the "Skud Missile" for his
aggressive riding and unorthodox
lines, Elias is also known for being
relentless and never quitting.
