MotoGP World Championship 2012 – Grand Prix de France – Preview Moto2

MAPFRE ASPAR RIDER TONI ELIAS READY FOR 200TH GP START

Nico Terol targets improvements in fourth round of championship

The MAPFRE ASPAR Team head to the fourth round of the Moto2 World Championship on the back of an interesting day's testing at Albacete last week, where Toni Elias tried some new settings for the rear of his Suter – namely with the shock and swingarm pivot position - that he hopes will propel him back towards the podium positions this weekend.

The experienced Spaniard is set to make his 200^th Grand Prix appearance at Le Mans, where he has taken two of his ten career wins: in 250cc in 2003 and in Moto2 two years ago. Elías joins an exclusive club of just sixteen riders to have reached the double century mark in the entire 64-year history of the sport and the whole MAPFRE Aspar team would like to congratulate him on the achievement.

By contrast Nico Terol continues his adaptation to four-stroke racing this weekend, having stepped up from the 125cc class in the winter. His third Moto2 outing in Portugal saw an improvement in performance and fortunes as he closed the gap to the points positions with a sixteenth-place finish, less than ten seconds off sixth, raising hopes of an even stronger challenge at  circuit that suits his riding style.

Toni Elias: “I am excited to be competing in my 200^th Grand Prix. It has been a great career with some fantastic moments and some not so good. The other day at Albacete I was reminded of the last time I was there as a 14 year old, when I was competing in the Spanish Championship with just my father and we had to do everything ourselves. Back then I would have signed up instantly for the career I have had and I feel very lucky. The test went well and although I can't say we'll be challenging for podium positions right away we should definitely be closer. We have been able to rule a few things out and hopefully we can confirm the information at Le Mans. We are doing a good job though, that much I know.”

Nico Terol: “Of the three races so far Estoril was the most positive. I was lapping just 0.8 seconds off the pace of the winner so we have taken a big step forward and now we have to build on that at Le Mans. A big thing for me is to keep my concentration at the start of the race, which would be helped by a better grid position so that I don't get boxed in. In Moto2 there are a lot more fast riders than there were in 125cc and for that reason I need to step up my performance levels in the early laps. I am feeling pretty relaxed though and looking forward to the start of practice at Le Mans”.