News out of Spain overnight suggests that the current Moto2 champion, Tony Elias’s tenure at LCR might be coming to an end. Word is that he has been given 3 more races to start improving or a substitute will be found. It seems as if Elias is pretty much flying solo with little or no communication between him and his technicians and vastly differing opinions on which way that the team should be heading. It doesn’t really matter what the reason is, the fact is that the team is welded to last position on the MotoGp grid and nothing they try seems to be having any effect.Given Randy de Puniet’s degree of success on the same bike last year, the whole thing is very perplexing.
Of course some have said that it is Elias’s flamboyant riding style that is being a big contributory factor. 800’s seem to like a smooth, flowing style and Elias’s style is definitely not that. And, as for finding a replacement, well, that’s a problem too. The usual silly names get mentioned, Gary McCoy (whose ultra smooth and flowing style is SURE to suit the 800’s NOT..) John Hopkins (who seems to be quite happy at BSB) and even some rabid Pommy who is suggesting the injured and terribly out of form Johnathan Rae (quite what he expects Rae to do with his contract with Ten Kate is anyone’s guess). If LCR do decide to show Tony the door it will be a big shame and a big problem to find a suitable replacement. It is not just a matter of grabbing some Superbike hotshoe and sitting him in the seat; experience has shown us already that there is a yawning chasm of skill level required to make the transition.
In the mean time, Casey Stoner is still making hay with his criticisms of the Ducati team and the struggle that Valentino Rossi has had getting the bike to be competitive. It does illustrate again how dangerous it is to make comments in the media that can come back and bite you later. I’m sure that Vale must now be deeply regretting his dismissive comments about Casey and the Ducati with which he peppered the Italian media last year.
Speaking of Superbike riders who found the jump to MotoGp to be too much, James Toseland is reported to be returning for the this weekend’s WSBK round at Brno. However, he is only going to TRY and ride at this stage and the team has Lorenzo Lanzi on standby should JT be unable to compete.
And Loris Capirossi, injured at the last round and unable to compete is also going to attempt a return at the Sachsenring in 10 days’ time. The team had originally announced that his place would be taken by Sylvain Guintoli, but his times at the Mugello test were very disappointing and PRAMAC are asking Loris to get back on sooner rather than later.
I had a telephone call from the good wife last night letting me know that she landed safely in Helsinki. Apparently the cattle class was over-subscribed on the first leg of the journey from Sydney to Bankok so she was upgraded to Business Class; very pleased. I must say that, even though it’s not new, being able to talk on the phone to someone on the other side of the world and have them sound like they are in the same room is a spooky thing.
Thanks to Scott Jones from the excellent motomatters.com for this great shot from Mugello. I love the way they painted the curbs in the colours of the Italian flag.