Two wins in the opening four races of 2023 sees the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team arrive in Le Mans for a landmark French Grand Prix full of confidence with the clear aim to fight more success in Sunday’s 22-lap race.

• The historic Bugatti Circuit hosts the 1000^th Grand Prix this weekend and after Tony Arbolino won in Termas de Rio Hondo and Sam Lowes dominated from pole to win in Jerez last time out, both expect to be firmly in the hunt for glory in round five.
• After a successful one-day test after the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team kick off preparations in France’s Sarthe region at 950am on Friday morning with the 40-minute Practice 1 session.

/// SAM LOWES

• A 10^th win in Moto2 in the Spanish Grand Prix last month was one of the best performances of the Briton’s career, with Lowes delivering a masterful display to stand on the top step of the podium for the first time in over a year-and-a-half.
• Points scoring finishes in the opening four rounds has given Lowes great momentum heading to Le Mans and he’s looking to be in the mix to collect back-to-back wins for the first time since he kicked off the 2021 season with a double win in Qatar.
• Lowes has winning pedigree too in Le Mans and he won the race there in 2020 in what was his 100^th Moto2 appearance.

“The target is to be challenging at the front again”

“Jerez was obviously a fantastic weekend for me and the team and it gives us a big lift coming into Le Mans. It felt like a big step forward for us to be back on the front row and then being back on the top step of the podium. That was a very important confidence builder for me and now it will be vital that we build on that this weekend. Momentum is always important in racing, so the target is to work hard to keep us progressing and challenging at the front where we need to be. Le Mans is a track I enjoy a lot and I got my first win with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team, so it’s always a nice feeling to go back.  The weather can sometimes be a challenge, but I feel we are prepared. It’s a great event with the fans and I’m determined to put on another strong showing.”

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• An intelligent and gritty ride from 10^th on the grid to fourth in Jerez means Arbolino will start this weekend’s Le Mans action as the joint leader of the World Championship with four of 20 races completed.
• Arbolino showed great maturity in Andalucia to maintain his strong start to 2023 and the Italian is now on a formidable streak of form that has seen him take the chequered flag inside the top six in his last nine finishes.
• Arbolino finished on the podium in the 2020 Moto3 battle and a fourth place in 2021 was the best result of his rookie season in Moto2.

“I have a lot of desire to be fighting for the win this weekend”

“Le Mans is always a race I look forward to because the fans are incredible, and the atmosphere is something special. We have worked a lot in these last few days to try and understand where we can improve some of the weak points that meant we couldn’t be closer to the front in Jerez. I’m confident we have the solutions and I have a lot of desire to be fighting for the win again this weekend. We have shown a very high level so far this season and I see no reason why we can’t keep that going in France this weekend.”