No special Honda support for Toni Elias

Toni Elias won’t get any extra support from Honda unless his satellite Gresini squad stumps up the cash for new parts.

Despite having ‘factory’ rider status for 2009, Elias still won’t get the level of support that Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso will do in the Repsol-backed official factory squad.

• Get all the latest MotoGP news

For now, Spaniard Elias has an almost identical RC212V to Pedrosa and Dovizioso and immediately impressed by clocking the fifth best time in Sepang last week.
A best time of 2.01.560 saw him finish best Honda rider.

Honda bosses confirmed in Malaysia that Fausto Gresini would have to buy development parts, though upgrades would filter through if Elias continued his impressive start during the world championship campaign.

Elias, who had a torrid time on the Pramac Ducati last season, “said: “I’m just doing my job and not trying to impress anybody to get anything.

“I don’t have to demonstrate nothing. I just want to be fast so that Honda know they can trust me.”