Joerg Teuchert
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Toni Elias to replace Kyle Wyman at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca round
TUCSON, Ariz. (July 1) – Kyle Wyman Racing has announced that the team will field 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and 2010 Moto2 World Champion Toni Elias in his Panera Bread Ducati Panigale V4 R at the MotoAmerica GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Speedfest in Monterey as as replacement runner for injured Kyle Wyman.
Elias will replace injured team owner / rider Kyle Wyman, who will focus his efforts on winning the Mission King Of The Baggers Championship on his factory Harley-Davidson Road Glide at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Wyman suffered multiple fractures of the Olecranon bone, an important structural component of the elbow joint, when he crashed his Panera Bread Ducati during the second of two HONOS Superbike races at Road America on June 13 . Wyman underwent surgery on June 17 in Northern California, where Dr. Maury K. Harwood used a plate and seven screws to repair the elbow. Since then, Wyman had rehabilitated his injury at home in an effort to be as fit as possible for the King Of The Baggers series final in Laguna on July 11.
Wyman leads the title race in the Mission King Of The Baggers series with a victory and a runner-up in both races. Wyman gave Harley-Davidson their first-ever Baggers victory on Sunday, June 13 at Road America, just hours before injuring himself in the second Superbike race.
“I am very happy to welcome Toni Elias to KWR as a replacement rider for the Laguna Seca round on the KWR Ducati Superbike,†said Wyman. “Toni brings a wealth of experience both in MotoAmerica and abroad, and it is an honor to be able to field a rider and world champion of his caliber. Toni is a great guy who we have missed. this year in the paddock so I’m really happy to be able to welcome him back to MotoAmerica. There were a lot of factors that we sifted through to come to our decision and this is not the one I have taken lightly. I want him to have fun and enjoy the bike and the experience, and I’m sure we’ll learn something along the way as I focus on the third and final round of the King of the Baggers.
Elias has an exceptional record at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the Spaniard having won three Superbike races on the 2.23-mile circuit nestled into the hillside on the Monterey Peninsula. In addition to those three wins, Elias has seven podiums at Laguna – including two second places and a third in last year’s triple title, which was the last time Elias rode a motorcycle after missing the 2021 season until ‘now.
“I’m really happy and really excited because Kyle gave me this opportunity to come back to the race track with a good bike,†Elias said. “I’ve been training since the last race in Laguna (Seca), but when you train you are riding at 10.20% of what you can do in the race. It was low speed and quiet, so I need that energy. I need to get on a good bike and stay 100% on the track and that’s why I’m so grateful to Kyle for thinking of me. It’s not about the outcome, it’s about having fun and if I can help and give Kyle some good information that’s great. I know he will be back soon so I wish him a speedy recovery because it is his bike and his team. It will be very pleasant to return to the paddock as a runner and this time I will come with Kristy, with the children. It’s something that makes me really happy. To share the race weekend with my family. I think it will be very special and of course Laguna is always amazing to race on this iconic track and I can’t wait to see myself on a Ducati.
Although this will mark Elias’ MotoAmerica Superbike debut on a Ducati, it will not be the Spaniard’s first race on the Italian marque as he competed for the Pramac Ducati team in the 2008 MotoGP World Championship, winning two podiums.
“I don’t think it will be much different from MotoGP Ducati,†said Elias. “Blood is blood and that does not change. I think the issues we solved that year will help me over the weekend and I think it will help the team for the future.
For the full weekend program – click here: https://motoamerica.com/wp-content/PDF/2021%20MotoAmerica%20Laguna%20Seca%20Fan%20and%20Broadcast%20Schedule
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