MotoGP – Toni Elias trains to be fit for Sepang

The 2011 MotoGP World Championship is upon us. Before the "kick-off" which will be held in Qatar on March 20th, the new member of the LCR Honda MotoGP Team Toni Elias (World Champion of the Moto2 category) and his colleagues will be engaged in three test sessions starting from the first week of February in Sepang (Malaysia). The Iberian rider wastes no time and during the winter break he decided to follow an accurate training program to prepare for the power of the Honda RC212V.

Lucio Cecchinello: “Toni is a rider who has already “tasted” MotoGP and is aware of the physical effort it requires. The weight of the two bikes (Moto2 and MotoGP) is similar but the weight/power ratio of the MotoGP is superior. A driver engaged in the maximum category must increase muscle mass especially in the upper part of the body given that during braking and acceleration he is subjected to heavy stress which mainly affects the forearms and triceps. Just think that the motorbike can reach 340kmh when braking! A good grip on the handlebars is essential. Correct training alternates the increase in muscle mass with the aerobic part because, in addition to strength, resistance is also fundamental. The best way to prepare for this type of effort is undoubtedly riding a motorbike and Toni does this weekly with the cross bike."

Toni Elias: “On January 1st I started my targeted training program in view of next season. I'm a mountain lover and I live near it so I started there with my friend Ivan Cervantes (Spanish Enduro Champion). Climbing a peak is really tiring and the first week was hard then I found the right rhythm. For me it is essential to play sports while having fun so I can get the best results: "suffering" while having fun is certainly less burdensome. I practice a bit of everything: jogging, cycling (both on the road and in the mountains), cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, I go to the gym and try my hand at go-karts but what I like most is riding a motorbike with my father . We have a cross track behind the house and my father encourages me to always give my best and, as a former motocross champion, he is not afraid to open the throttle. I'm doing a great job to get in shape for the first GP of the season in Qatar."

LCR