Toni Elías

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Toni Elías (March 26, 1983) is the third member of his family with this name to compete in motorcycle racing. He was born in Manresa, Spain.

He started in the 125cc World Championship at the age of 17 in 2000, finishing 3rd in 2001 and taking his first win in the Dutch TT at the prestigious Assen circuit. He went to 250s for 2002, finishing 4th that year, 3rd a year later, and 4th in 2004.

In 2005 he entered MotoGP for Fortuna Yamaha, and for 2006 he takes Fortuna backing to Fausto Gresini's Honda squad.

[edit] First MotoGP victory

Elías won his first premier class race on October 15, 2006 during a fantastic final lap of the Portuguese MotoGP at Estoril. Elías had started the lap in third place, but an aggressive braking move into Curva 1, moved him past Valentino Rossi and the then-leader Kenny Roberts Jr into the lead. He actually clipped Roberts while braking, and this loss of momentum meant that Rossi passed Roberts for second position. These positions held until the chicane (turns 9 and 10) near the end of the lap. It looked like Elías had left the door wide open for Rossi and sure enough, the reigning world champion dived to the inside to pass the Spaniard. However, Elías would keep pressuring Rossi, trying to pass him on the run towards turns 11 and 12. Rossi had the line and kept the position, and you would have thought that Rossi would be 13 points clear of title rival Nicky Hayden going to the final round in Valencia. But, Elías kept the speed up through the thirteenth and final turn, and tucked in behind Rossi, to draft him alongside the Italian. In a finish that needed a video replay, Elías was given the race by just 0.002 seconds. It was one of the closest finishes in the history of MotoGP. And it was a great way for Elías to secure his maiden premier class victory. This victory helped secure him a contract extension, which was doubtful prior to the win at Estoril, with Honda and Fausto Gresini for the 2007 Moto GP season.

As it turned out, Elias' victory cost Rossi five points, which was the exact number of points that Rossi would finish behind Hayden in the Championship standings.