Toni Elías facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toni Elías
Elías at the 2010 Australian Grand Prix
Nationality	Spanish
Born	(1983-03-26) 26 March 1983 (age 42) Manresa, Spain
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2005–2009, 2011–2012, 2015 Manufacturers Yamaha, Honda, Ducati, Yamaha Forward Championships 0 2015 championship position 27th (2 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 105 1 6 0 3 574 Moto2 World Championship Active years 2010, 2012–2013 Manufacturers Moriwaki, Suter, Kalex Championships 1 (2010) 2013 championship position 18th (22 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 41 7 8 3 2 343 250cc World Championship Active years 2002–2004 Manufacturers Aprilia, Honda Championships 0 2004 championship position 4th (199 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 48 7 20 5 6 603 125cc World Championship Active years 1999–2001 Manufacturers Honda Championships 0 2001 championship position 3rd (217 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 35 2 9 4 1 243 Superbike World Championship Active years 2013–2014 Manufacturers Aprilia Championships 0 2014 championship position 9th (171 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 32 0 0 0 0 241

Antonio "Toni" Elías Justícia (born March 26, 1983) is a Spanish former professional motorcycle racer. He made history by becoming the very first champion of the Moto2 World Championship in 2010.

Toni comes from a family of racers; he is the third person in the Elías family to compete in motorcycle racing. He recently retired from racing in June 2023, while competing in the MotoAmerica AMA Superbike Championship.

In the 2016 MotoAmerica season, Toni finished 3rd overall. He won six races and earned 304 points. The next year, in 2017, he won the championship! He was the runner-up in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, finishing just behind Cameron Beaubier.

Toni's Racing Journey

Elías testing his bike at Sepang in 2007.

Toni Elías was born in Manresa, Catalonia, Spain. He started his racing career in the 125cc World Championship in 2000 when he was 17 years old. By 2001, he finished 3rd in the championship and won his first race at the famous Dutch TT in Assen.

He then moved up to the 250cc class in 2002. He continued to do well, finishing 4th in 2002, 3rd in 2003, and 4th again in 2004.

MotoGP Adventures

In 2005, Toni joined the top class, MotoGP, riding for Fortuna Yamaha. For 2006 and 2007, he rode for Gresini Honda. In 2006, he achieved his first and only win in the MotoGP class.

In 2007, after getting on the podium early in the season, he had a bad crash at Assen and broke his leg. This injury affected his season, but he still managed to get another podium finish later that year at Motegi.

After riding for the Alice Ducati team in 2008, Toni returned to Gresini Honda in 2009.

Becoming a Moto2 Champion

For the 2010 season, Toni moved to the new Moto2 class. He rode a Moriwaki bike for Gresini. Even after a big crash during pre-season testing, he was very competitive. He won the race at Le Mans, which was a very exciting race.

After that win, he took the lead in the championship and never gave it up! He won the very first Moto2 World Championship at the Malaysian Grand Prix, with three races still left in the season.

In 2011, he went back to MotoGP with Team LCR, but it was his toughest season there. He scored fewer points and finished 15th. He then returned to Moto2 in 2012 with the Aspar Team, where he had raced before in the 250cc class. However, his time with the team ended after the Mugello race.

Later in 2012, Toni filled in for an injured rider, Hector Barbera, on the Pramac Ducati team for a few races.

Toni's First MotoGP Win

Toni Elías won his first big MotoGP race on October 15, 2006. It was an amazing final lap at the Portuguese MotoGP in Estoril. Toni started the last lap in third place. He made a brave move, braking hard into the first corner, and passed both Valentino Rossi and the leader, Kenny Roberts, Jr., to take the lead. He even touched Roberts a little bit!

Rossi then passed Roberts for second place. As they raced towards the end, Rossi tried to pass Toni in a chicane (turns 9 and 10). It looked like Toni had left a gap, and Rossi, who was a world champion, went for it.

But Toni kept fighting! He stayed right behind Rossi, trying to pass him on the way to turns 11 and 12. Rossi held his line, and it seemed like Rossi would get a big lead in the championship. However, Toni kept his speed high through the very last turn (turn 13). He tucked in right behind Rossi, using the air current (drafting) to pull alongside him. In a finish so close they needed a video replay, Toni won the race by just 0.002 seconds! It was one of the closest finishes ever in MotoGP history.

This incredible win helped Toni get a new contract with Honda and Fausto Gresini for the 2007 season. Toni was the last non-factory rider to win a MotoGP race for a long time, until Jack Miller won in 2016. Interestingly, Toni's victory meant Rossi lost five points, which was exactly how many points Rossi finished behind Nicky Hayden in the championship that year.

MotoAmerica Success

In 2016, Toni Elías started racing in the MotoAmerica Superbike series for Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing. He rode with the number 24. He had an amazing start, winning the first three races of the season!

Toni went on to win the Superbike championship in 2017. He had 10 victories and finished on the podium 18 times, meaning he was never lower than second place in any race he finished.

Toni announced his retirement from MotoAmerica Superbike racing at the end of the 2020 season. He finished his MotoAmerica career with 32 wins and 60 podium finishes for Suzuki. In June 2023, he officially retired from racing completely.

Career Statistics Summary

Elías on a Honda RC212V at the 2009 Dutch TT.

Toni Elías had a long and successful career in motorcycle racing. Here's a quick look at his achievements in different racing classes:

Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing (MotoGP, Moto2, 250cc, 125cc)

MotoAmerica Superbike Championship

Toni Elías also had a fantastic run in the MotoAmerica Superbike series:

See also

In Spanish: Toni Elías para niños