Xaus wondering where it went wrong.

New for 2005 Fortuna Yamaha rider Ruben Xaus was left wondering where it all went wrong after a disastrous M1 race debut at Jerez on Sunday.

The former WSBK runner-up fell on the very first lap - was forced to pit for repairs as a result - but broke the pit lane speed limit and was served with a stop-go penalty as a result. He finished the race in eighteenth and last, three laps down on race winner Valentino Rossi.

Elias, Tamada, Barros Edwards et al, Spanish MotoGP Race, 2005
Elias, Tamada, Barros Edwards et al, Spanish MotoGP Race, 2005
© Gold and Goose

New for 2005 Fortuna Yamaha rider Ruben Xaus was left wondering where it all went wrong after a disastrous M1 race debut at Jerez on Sunday.

The former WSBK runner-up fell on the very first lap - was forced to pit for repairs as a result - but broke the pit lane speed limit and was served with a stop-go penalty as a result. He finished the race in eighteenth and last, three laps down on race winner Valentino Rossi.

"This was not an easy weekend! I wanted to start my first race with Yamaha in a steady way but I'm still trying to figure out where I went wrong," he sighed. "I don't know what happened in the last corner but clearly I made a mistake.

"I feel so bad for my team and my fans, that's why I attempted to get back out there to do my best despite being so far back. I hope this won't be repeated next weekend," he added.

By contrast, Xaus' team-mate Toni Elias enjoyed a much more positive race, on what was his MotoGP debut, the former 250cc race winner crossing the line in 12th position - 7secs ahead of Loris Capirossi.

"First of all I'm really happy because I finished my first MotoGP, and I finished it in the points," he smiled. "It all went as we had hoped and I even had a chance to have a good battle with a few quality riders at one stage.

"Right now I need to keep progressing in this way; keep learning and developing as I have until now. I believe it was a really positive day and I'm even surprised that my physical condition at the end of the race was so good, because it wasn't as physically demanding as I had expected," he declared.

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