Filip Salac claimed a brilliant 1^st podium in Elf Marc VDS Racing Team colours after gambling on slick tyres in mixed conditions at the Mobility Resort Motegi, while Tony Arbolino was 11^th.

• The Japanese GP took a dramatic turn when the race was red flagged on the 1^st lap due to falling rain. The race was restarted over a reduced distance from 19 laps to 12. It was still spitting with rain when the race restarted at 12.30 local time.
• A total of 42,018 people were in attendance at the Mobility Resort Motegi on Sunday to watch the 16^th Moto2 race of the 2024 season.

/// TONY ARBOLINO, 11^th

• With light rain falling before the sighting lap, Tony took the decision to start the race on wet tyres. He started well from 10^th on the grid and held 6^th at the end of lap 1.
• Yet by lap 5, it became clear that wets weren’t the ideal tyres to have. Tony struggled with grip, as he came home in 11^th.
• Tony remains 10^th in the World Championship standings with 127 points.

  “For me it was honestly crazy to think about fitting the slick tyres”

  “It’s a shame what happened today. We had a rainy situation just before the start and for me it was honestly crazy to think about fitting the slick tyres because the first three rows were starting with wets. I couldn’t comprehend going with anything other than wets at that time. It’s tough to take because our potential was high today and I was sure we could at least fight for the podium. Anyway, we’ll go home with a good feeling and knowing that we had good speed during the weekend. We’ll be pushing to come back and score even better results in Australia.”

/// FILIP SALAC, 3^rd

• Filip was 1 of just 8 riders to gamble on the rain stopping and the grip remaining high. He chose slick tyres and after a steady opening 5 laps he began to gain confidence.
• 24^th on lap 1, the Czech rider was 15^th by lap 4. He was 8^th on lap 5 and then sat an incredible 3^rd by lap 6. Despite late pressure from Jeremy Alcoba, the 22-year old held on for his 3^rd podium in the Moto2 class.
• Filip’s 1^st podium of the season sees him climb to 15^th in the World Championship with 57 points.

“I told the team we should risk it”

“An amazing Sunday! The race was stopped during the first lap due to the rain. When I saw it was raining, I thought it wasn’t heavy. And the clouds were coming to us. I thought it was going to rain more. But I told the team to fit the slicks because we aren’t fighting for the championship so we should risk it! Finally, it was a good decision. The first laps were very tough because we didn’t know what to expect. But finally, the track dried up and was in a good state. I’m happy with my decision because the team wasn’t totally convinced! But finally, we had luck on our side for the first time this year! I’m so happy. I just want to say thanks to the team and to everyone who kept believing in me.”