Toni Elías and Aspar Team end their agreement in Moto2
Rider Toni Elías and the Mapfre Aspar team have mutually agreed to end their contract, so the 24 will no longer be riding for them at Indy, with Jordi Torres, the leader of the Moto2 CEV, as the possible replacement.
After the Moto2 World Championship race at the Mugello Circuit, the Team Mapfre Aspar and rider Toni Elías have announced that they are mutually ending their contract, so for the next race at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, the 24 will no longer be part of Jorge Martínez Aspar’s team.
The 2012 season has gotten off to a rather difficult start for the 2010 Moto2 world champion. He came back to this championship after a disastrous year in MotoGP, and the 24 was very excited and eager, with a team that had many options, undoubtedly the favorite for everything.
But now both parties have reached an agreement, under which the Manresa rider will look for other alternatives for the upcoming races. After these nine races, they have decided to end their agreement, since the partnership between the two sides did not meet initial expectations, and by mutual agreement they have chosen to release the Catalan rider. Everything has been agreed upon.
Following the Mugello event, there are several weeks of break, a vacation for the Moto2 and Moto3 riders, so they will have the opportunity to look for the 24’s replacement, and Toni himself will be able to see the options he has for the future, and the offers. Although most people have already taken for granted that the great Jordi Torres will sign for this bike, this team and the rest of the races, the current leader of the CEV Moto2 is undoubtedly one of the key pieces of the category and one of the most sought-after. We will see if it is confirmed and whether we see the 18 in action at Indianapolis, or if there are other possibilities.
Statements from Jorge Martínez ‘Aspar’:
From the start of the 2012 preseason, we made a very strong commitment to Toni Elías. Already during his previous stint with the team, in his time in 250cc, he proved to be a very fast rider. And in 2010 he confirmed it with the Moto2 title.
The goal of MAPFRE Aspar Team is always to be the benchmark team in the intermediate class and a clear contender for the title. This year we had placed our trust in Toni, but in the end things did not turn out as we expected. Therefore we have decided, together with both parties, to go our separate ways. We believe this is the best for both Toni and MAPFRE Aspar Team.
Statements from Aspar during the MotoGP TV broadcast:
It was Elías who asked us to terminate the contract, because he asked us for a chassis change, he has not adapted to the Suter, but we cannot change. Márquez rides a Suter, Luthi rides a Suter, we believe it is a competitive bike.
We wish Toni the best.
Statements from Toni Elías:
I’m sorry I was unable to continue my journey with MAPFRE Aspar Team. The team has given its all, both during preseason and throughout the season. We have always looked for solutions together so that I could ride fast with the Suter, but in the end that was not the case. The atmosphere has always been excellent, all the mechanics went out of their way to find a solution and Jorge has fully trusted me, but things did not turn out as we expected. In the end we have opted to part ways, now that we are still mid-season, so that both the team and I can react and try to improve our results separately.
Source | Mapfre Aspar Team
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