Monday, 9 November 2009, 11:47 GMT

Toni Elias is looking for an immediate return to MotoGP in 2011 after what he hopes is a successful campaign in Moto2 next year.

The 26-year-old Spaniard will step down a class after the Gresini Honda squad elected to replace him with 250cc champion Marco Simoncelli.

"My MotoGP adventure is over for now but I hope to be back as soon as possible after taking on the new challenge that awaits me in Moto2," said the Spaniard.

Elias made a lightning start to the Valencia Grand Prix to run second during the early stages, and eventually came home sixth - enough to wrest a career-best seventh place in the riders' championship.

"The team did a great job to give me a bike that I was able to ride to the maximum in qualifying and in the race today," added Elias, whose high point during the season was a podium finish at Brno.

"That gave me the opportunity to take seventh place in the championship, which six riders were going for.

"In the end I knew seventh place in the championship was ours if I could finish sixth so I gritted my teeth to the end."