Just five days after encountering sweltering heat in Indonesia, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team are braced for much cooler conditions this weekend as Sam Lowes and Tony Arbolino gear up for the high-speed challenge of Australia’s breath-taking Phillip Island track

• A double top 10 in Mandalika was a strong to start to a tough run of six races in seven weeks, but Lowes and Arbolino are eyeing a return to the podium battle at Phillip Island this weekend.
• Cool temperatures, gusting winds and possible rain mean a challenging weekend lies in store, with the action at the 4.4km track getting underway at 950am local time and the 23-lap race due to start at 1215pm on Sunday afternoon.

/// SAM LOWES

• A battling ride to 10^th place in Indonesia was the best result for Lowes in the last four rounds and he is ready to use that positive finish as a springboard for success this weekend in Australia.
• Lowes finished second from the front row in just his second Moto2 appearance at Phillip Island in 2015 and he rates the fast and flowing layout as one of his favourites on the World Championship schedule.
• Lowes started and finished in 12^th position on just his second race back after suffering a serious left shoulder in the British Grand Prix a few weeks earlier in last year’s Phillip Island encounter. 

“Phillip Island is an amazing track”

“Phillip Island is just an amazing track, and it is a place that I always look forward to racing at. It is very fast and very flowing, which makes it a different challenge compared to the last few races. And it will be a lot cooler than some of the last rounds, so it is going to be very important to work well, understand how to get the tyres working and get the feeling in the cold conditions. I raced in Australia last year but unfortunately, I wasn’t anywhere near my best physically because of the shoulder injury, so I’m looking forward to riding it this year in perfect shape and I feel ready to show my full potential.”

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• Arbolino’s skill and bravery carried him to a hard earned sixth place in Mandalika after he encountered rear grip issues in the scorching heat and humidity.
• The Italian’s best result at Phillip Island is a ninth place when competing in the Moto3 category in 2019 and in an epic edge of the seat battle he finished only 1.6s behind the winner.
• He made his first appearance at Phillip Island in Moto2 one year ago but crashed out of second place at turn eight on lap seven after qualifying fourth.

“This weekend gives us a great chance to be at the front”

“I love being back in Australia and I love riding at Phillip Island. It is an incredible circuit and one of my favourites, so I arrive feeling confident that we can have a positive weekend. I felt very strong in the race in Indonesia but unfortunately, we were denied a better result by circumstances that completely out of our hands.  We move on, and this weekend gives us another great chance to be back at the front. We aren’t giving up and we are still fighting but our target right now is to make some podiums and victories and then see what happens.”