Boosted by a fantastic start to the 2023 Moto2 World Championship in Portugal last Sunday, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team makes the long trip to Argentina confident of more success in round two this weekend.

• After a brilliant podium for Tony Arbolino and rousing recovery from outside of the points to finish close to the top six from Sam Lowes, both are now targeting another strong challenge at the fast and demanding 4.8km Termas de Rio Hondo track.
• Practice action in South America gets underway at 950am local time on Friday morning, with Lowes and Arbolino set to do battle over 21 laps on Sunday.

/// SAM LOWES

• Lowes recovered superbly from a hectic first two laps in Portimao last weekend to expertly pick his way through from 17^th and eventually take important World Championship points in seventh.
• The 32-year-old showed podium pace in his dazzling recovery, and he is now relishing the prospect of adding to previous top performances in Argentina this weekend.
• Lowes placed third in the 2015 encounter and the following year he took second place from pole position in Termas de Rio Hondo.

“I go to Termas with a lot of motivation to be back at the front”

“Being as fast and consistent as I was in Portugal last weekend really gave me a big confidence boost and now, I can’t wait to get to Argentina. I just want to keep the ball rolling, so when we get back to Europe next month, I’m in good shape in terms of the World Championship. Termas is a track that I really enjoy, and I’ve been able to be fast in qualifying and in the races before, so I go there with a lot of motivation to be back at the front again. Portimao showed what a good job we have done with the bike this winter and with the base setting we now have I am sure we can be strong in every race. The weather looks like it is going to be good, and I love racing in Argentina. The fans are really passionate, and I can’t wait to put on a good show for them.”

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• Arbolino showed precisely why he is one of the leading title contenders in 2023 when he fought hard for a thoroughly deserved third place at the Algarve International Circuit last weekend.
• That result was a fourth podium in his last five appearances and the Italian is fully confident he can extend his current purple patch in Argentina.
• Arbolino finished third from third place on the grid in the 2019 Moto3 campaign and he was back on the front row in Moto2 one year ago before finishing in a strong sixth.

“The objective is to be fighting for the win”

“The race in Portugal was a fantastic way to start the season for me because it was important to bring the momentum we gained at the end of 2022 into this year. It wasn’t always easy after a difficult Friday, but my team worked non-stop to give me a bike capable of fighting for the podium and I was happy to show our level. It would have been nice to battle with Acosta and Canet, but a podium was a great reward for all the hard work we put in. The result in Portugal obviously gives us a boost going to Argentina this weekend. It is not an easy track. We must stay concentrated, but the objective is to be fighting for the win and I will give my all to do that.”