Toni Elias has been drafted in to replace the injured Hector Barbera at Laguna Seca. The Spaniard had recently parted ways with the Aspar team in Moto2, meaning he was immediately available to take the ride, and given Elias' prior experience with the team - Elias rode for the squad back in 2008 - and with the Bridgestone tires, Elias was the obvious candidate.
The Pramac team had a prior agreement with Kenny Noyes, the former Moto2 rider currently contesting the Spanish Moto2 championship, as permanent replacement rider. In the end, the American lost out to Elias on the basis of the Spaniard's previous experience with both the Bridgestone tires and the Ducati Desmosedici. Despite Elias' obvious struggles with the Bridgestone tires last season, both Ducati and Pramac must be hoping that the new, softer construction Bridgestones will be kinder to Elias' style than their 2011 predecessors. More importantly, perhaps, Elias' experience with the bike and the tires makes him less likely to crash expensively at the tricky Laguna Seca circuit.
