Elias glad to be back 'home' with Gresini

Elias is back to the Italian squad following a year with the Alice team, with whom he endured a difficult 2008 season onboard the Ducati, finishing in 12th place in the standings.

The Spanish rider was back on a Honda for the test, for the first time since 2007, when he raced with Gresini.

Elias admitted going back to the Japanese bike was not an easy transition, but he was nonetheless delighted to be riding for the Italian team again.

"I am very happy to have returned to Honda and to Fausto Gresini's team," said Elias, 13th fastest on Monday.

"For me, it is like coming home because in the two years we worked together before we developed a mutually trusting relationship and we understand very well the feeling and method of working together that was always very successful.

"Coming back to ride aboard a Honda was not easy because it is a completely different machine to what I was riding throughout the 2008 season, however after just one hour of testing today the feeling improved a lot.

"We approached our work today with calmness because we know that I will have to gradually adapt myself to the new bike that will be equipped with tyres in accordance with the new regulations."