Spaniard Toni Elias is getting ready to spearhead the JR Racing’s assault to the 2015 eni FIM Superbike World Championship. The 31 year old from Manresa has chosen to join the new project led by Chary Robinson and managed by former two time World Superbike Champion Troy Corser.

“I’m very happy with this new opportunity,” said Toni Elias. “We started talking during the French Round and I liked their project straight away. I worked with some of them in the past, back in 1999, and scored my first two World Championship points with the same team Chary Robinson was part of. I’m also very excited to work with Troy Corser, a true World Superbike legend. I’m sure I can learn a lot from him.”

The former Moto2 World Champion will test the for the first time next month and, despite knowing that it will take time to get up to speed, he hopes to reach the top-5 soon. Elias reckons the experience of his new teammate Ayrton Badovini aboard the S 1000 RR will be crucial in developing the bike. “I cannot wait to start testing in January and step by step improving my feeling with it. It will be really difficult to fight for the title but we will surely aim for the top-5 and after that trying to win some races.”

“Ayrton is a nice guy” he added, “a hard worker and he knows the bike very well. I’m sure we will work perfectly together. We met for the first time in 2011 while testing the S 1000 RR but then he was selected to ride the bike for the following year. His and Troy’s experience with the bike will help us developing the bike much quicker.”

Elias hopes to put to good use the experience gained in his first full year in the series, even though he is aware that the new technical rules will lead to a change in scenario in terms of bike performances. “I’m really looking forward to my second full year in the series, knowing I won’t lack in track knowledge anymore. Surely the new rules will create a new balance and we still have to see which are going to be the most competitive bike next year but these changes will help producing an even better show.”