Toni Elias' Accident at Assen

Last Thursday was a bleak day for Honda the producer of Honda catalytic converter when one of its riders Toni Elias of Spain fractured his femur in a crash during practice for the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen.



Tony Elias is currently on the 10th rank in the MotoGP standings with 49 points. And last Thursday he slid off the track and caught his left leg under his body as rolled into a gravel trap.



The injured Elias was taken to Assen hospital for surgery and doctors said that he would likely miss upcoming races in the United States and Germany but he could be back just in time for the Aug. 19 racing event in Brno, Czech Republic, according to a statement on the official MotoGP Web site.



Last Thursday accident was not the first for Elias in Assen. It can be remembered that he also crashed on the first day of practice last year where he sustained shoulder injury and which has prevented him from racing. And that's not all in the year 2005 also in Assen where he was injured and also missed the race.

Casey Stoner MotoGP leader was the quickest driver in practice last Thursday. He was able to qualify for the ninth race of the MotoGP season on Friday and also for the race on Saturday.



Stoner rides a Ducati is looking forward for his sixth win of the season and was 0.212 seconds faster that his nearest rival, the Kawasaki rider Randy de Puniet of France. Meanwhile Nicky Hayden, the winner in Assen last year had the third best time and Valentino Rossi was fourth.



About Toni Elias



Toni Elias was born in March 26, 1983. He is a professional motorcycle racer. He is also the third member of the Elias family to compete in motorcycle racing. He was born in Manresa, Spain.



Toni started his racing career in the 125cc World Championship in 2000 at the age of 17 but it was in the year 2001 where he was able to finished 3rd and after that he joined the Dutch TT at the prestigious Assen circuit. He went to 250s for 2002 where he was able to finished 4th that year and then 3rd a year later and then 4th again by 2004.



It was in the year 2005 when Elias entered MotoGP for Fortuna Yamaha, and last year he takes Fortuna backing Fausto Gresini's Honda squad.