Elias relieved to end run of mistakes

The Gresini Honda rider took a strong second place in Turkey, but then crashed at the first corner in China and fell again in France a fortnight ago.

But he believes his Italian Grand Prix result marks a turnaround and bodes well for his home race in Spain next weekend.

"It's good to finish sixth in Mugello because I crashed two times, once in France and once in China, and it was difficult for me and my head," Elias told BBC television.

"But now this is finished and we go to Barcelona with a new mentality.

"It's home and I will try my best. I will push a lot in front of my supporters and I hope it will be much better."

Elias added that he was pleased to get back to sixth place having taken a lot out of his tyres in the early laps as he came through from 16th on the grid to join the pack of bikes battling for the lead.

"It was an exhausting race and a difficult weekend for us, but finally sixth position here in Mugello is very good," he said.

"I was fighting at the beginning, I caught the first group and I used a little bit of front tyre and after eight laps I was starting to drop down.

"After I was fighting with Marco (Melandri) and Loris (Capirossi) and finally I passed them, and I'm really happy."