Elias hopes podiums bring '09 deal

The Spaniard's current contract with the satellite Alice Ducati team expires at the end of the season and he hasn't yet got a deal in place for next season.

It was expected that Alice would choose not to retain his services, and he was even being linked with a switch to Superbikes, but podium finishes in the last two races at Brno and Misano have revitalised his season and raised his value.

"I don't know what will happen now," he told the BBC after finishing third in today's race. "I'm completely free, this is important. I hope to find a good place, a good bike, for 2009.

Elias has been encouraged by his form in the last two races and hopes it will help him in the on-going negotiations for next season.

"It's a personal matter about me wanting to do well," he told Italia1 television. "I think I have the talent to get on the podium and to try to win, but a realistic opportunity hasn't come yet.

"There's a lot of talking but we haven't decided anything yet. I think something more may be coming, let's hope we can take a good decision for next year."

He also sympathised with reigning champion Casey Stoner, who crashed for the third time in as many races and is now 75 points behind Valentino Rossi in the title race, but was pleased to be the first Ducati home at Misano.

"I'm sorry for Casey, he's always the strongest of all," Elias added. "But I'm very happy to be on the podium again, and especially here in Italy - Ducati's home."