Elias not satisfied with qualifying position for 200th Grand Prix, Terol happy with progress

Toni Elias contests his 200th Grand Prix at Le Mans tomorrow and the aim for the MAPFRE ASPAR rider is to celebrate it with a good result come what may. However, with weather forecasts predicting more rain after a lunchtime shower today and a torrential downpour later in the afternoon it promises to be a lottery of a race, with the veteran Spaniard hoping to make the most of his experience from tenth on the grid with his young team-mate Nico Terol seven places behind him.

10th Toni Elias (1.38.826, 19 laps): “I’m not where I want to be and we are struggling to get there. There is nothing we can do but keep working hard. I am starting from the fourth row so I’ll need to get away well if I want to run with the leaders. The main thing now though is to solve the problems we are having and if we can do that we’ll be at the front. If it rains here you’re a hero if you can stay on two wheels so hopefully we can have a dry race and continue with our development programme.”

17th Nico Terol (1.39.229, 25 laps): “I am happy that we are finding the right way forward in this extremely difficult category. This morning I was happy with my pace, having lapped sixth fastest, but this afternoon was a stop-start session and I am four tenths of a top twelve position, which is what I was hoping for. But I am satisfied and we have to keep going like this. If I can get a good start and get into my rhythm quickly I can have a good race and if it rains it will be particularly important to ride smoothly and not make mistaes. I want to score points and finish as high as possible to take that next step.”

Source: Aspar Team