Reigning Moto2 champion and current LCR Honda MotoGP rider Toni Elias will ride the BMW Motorrad Italia WSBK machine at Misano today and Wednesday at an official World Superbike test that is stated as being out of the Spanish rider’s “curiosity” of the World Superbike Championship and superbikes themselves. However, Elias’ struggles ever since returning to the MotoGP World Championship have been plain to see, as he has more often than not settled at or near the rear of the field in practice and races. The Spaniard has been unable to come to terms with the spec Bridgestone tires and their special characteristics (the fact that they need to be worked hard to get heat into them, but their grip levels when getting up to proper temperature can be tenuous at best), and the Lucio Cecchinello team hasn’t been able to find a solution to his dilemma. Consistently bringing up the rear is never a recipe for longevity in MotoGP, and Elias surely is looking for other options for 2012.
It’s doubtful that he will accept a return to the Moto2 class. Elias has previously stated his dislike for the category despite his inaugural championship, berating the lack of racecraft in many of the riders (although that was during the class’ first year—the racing seems to have settled down now, with much less carnage than that debut season).
Former BMW Motorrad Italia rider James Toseland’s sudden retirement has opened up a seat there, and while the Elias cannot suddenly drop his MotoGP commitment to fill the spot for the remaining three WSBK events, the BMW Motorrad Italia team is surely looking at their own options for a suitable 2012 replacement. The team has stated that they “will identify and officially name the rider who will be competing for us in the last three races.”