Elias: Still time to turn year around

After winning the inaugural Moto2 title last year, the Spaniard returned to MotoGP with LCR Honda, but has so far struggled to get near the pace and invariably trailed the field. A ninth place in the wet at Jerez is the best result of his top-level comeback to date.

Although he admitted that the opening rounds had fallen far short of his expectations, Elias said he had not written the year off and was optimistic about what the move to a new chassis might bring.

"After winning the [Moto2] championship last year, I expected a different story back in MotoGP," he said. "The situation has been really tough until now, but it's the situation I have and what I can do is continue working and pushing.

"My motivation is still very good. We are working a lot and I'm sure we will be good. I prefer to think not about how we will start, but how we will finish. We've only done four races. The most important thing is we've grown up every race, step by step."

He will not switch to the new chassis until Saturday morning.

"I hope this frame will give me something better," said Elias. "We've made some steps and I hope to do it on Saturday."