Toni Elias is aiming to leapfrog the likes of
James Toseland and
Loris Capirossi during the final two rounds of the season, to secure a top ten finish in the 2008
MotoGP World Championship.
The Alice Ducati rider, confirmed on a factory Honda at Gresini for 2009, was just three points away from the top ten after podiums at Brno and Misano - but his results have plummeted in the three rounds since, the Spaniard scoring just nine points out of a possible 75.
Nevertheless, Elias heads to this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix twelfth in the standings, nine points behind Toseland and eleven from Capirossi - with
Shinya Nakano, whose place Elias will take next season, a mere four points further ahead.
"I want to enter the top ten in the riders' world standing," declared Toni. "It wouldn't be a great goal if we were at the beginning of the season, but for how things went this year I would be satisfied.
"Surely the three riders that are in the battle will do their best as well and it will not be so easy. I always liked this track and I hope to give to my team a good result. They deserve it for all the hard work done during this long season," he added.
Behind Elias, there is a 31 point deficit to team-mate
Sylvain Guintoli. The Frenchman will move to the British Superbike championship with Crescent Suzuki next season, and faces a painful end to his present grand prix career after fracturing a shoulder last time out at Phillip Island.
"In Australia the doctors suggested not to race due to the fracture in my shoulder blade after Saturday's fall, but I gritted my teeth trying to conquer the best position possible anyway," said Sylvain, who finished the Australian Grand Prix in 14th place.
"I will do the same here in Malaysia. There are only two races left, and I already know that the winter break, whatever professional choice I will take for next season, it will be long and I will miss the competition. For this motive I will not think about the pain but only racing!" he declared.
