TONI ELIAS TO MISS THE MUGELLO GP
20 May 2005 - Yamaha Racing

A press conference took place this afternoon, May 18, at the ''Institut Universitari Dexeus de Barcelona'', where Fortuna Yamaha rider Toni Elías underwent an operation yesterday to repair damage to his left wrist and left leg.

The Spanish rider crashed just five minutes from the close of testing at Le Mans on Monday. Elias, who had been on top form over the three days of the French Grand Prix last weekend, crashed at the chicane of the legendary circuit during the test. Elías fractured the radius and scaphoid of his left wrist and ruptured the ligaments that link the triquetral bone and the radius. The young Spaniard also fractured the outside of his left fibula. Doctor Xavier Mir informed the media representatives present of the extent of the injury.

Xavier Mir, Doctor (Insitut Universitari Dexeus de Barcelona) ''Toni''s operation was a case of fitting a titanium plate to his radius with a screw in his scaphoid, and the stitching of the ligaments that join the triquetral bone and the radius. The recuperation period for a normal person is around eight weeks, although taking into account Toni''s incredible capacity for recovery, I wouldn''t rule out his return at the Grand Prix of Catalunya.''

Toni Elías (Fortuna Yamaha Team)
''We stayed on for an extra day of tests at Le Mans. Up to then things had been going really well - I was lapping in the 1''34s, about a second faster than I had done in the race and only three-hundredths off Valentino''s time. It was a shame but that''s racing. In any case I''m in good spirits and I''m already looking forward to getting back on the bike. I would like to thank my whole team in general for their constant support, my sponsors and particularly Doctor Xavier Mir.''

Hervé Poncharal, Fortuna Yamaha Team Director
''I''m really sad about Toni Elías'' injury. Toni is demonstrating the massive potential he has and he had shown that once again on Sunday in the race. On Monday he was having a magnificent session when, unfortunately, he crashed. I wish him a speedy recovery and I hope that he can be back with us again soon. I would like to give my own special thanks to Dr. Mir and all his team for everything they have done.''

www.yamaha-racing.com

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