After a three-week spring break, Elf Marc VDS Racing Team riders Tony Arbolino and Filip Salac are ready to return to action at the legendary Assen track for the historic Dutch TT this weekend.

•  The eighth round in 2024 takes Arbolino and Salac to the Northeastern Netherlands and both are ready for the special adrenaline rush provided by Assen’s fast and flowing sections.
• The action kicks off on Friday morning with the opening practice session starting at 950am local time and the race action is due to get underway at 1215pm on Sunday afternoon over 22 laps.

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• After a demanding home round in Mugello at the beginning of June, Arbolino is eyeing a more productive weekend in the Netherlands as the Italian looks to fight for a first podium finish in 2024.
• Arbolino narrowly missed the top six in Assen one year ago having fought his way through from 10^th on the grid to a strong seventh position.
• His best result at the historic Assen track came five years ago in 2019 when he won a thrilling Moto3 battle against compatriot Lorenzo dalla Porta after starting on the front row.

“I’m positive about our prospects in Assen”

“The break was good to disconnect a little bit but also to get myself fully ready for this important double header in Assen and Sachsenring. I feel reenergised and positive about our prospects of a strong weekend in Assen. It is a great track that is steeped in history and I’ve won there before in the past, so it is a place that holds special memories for me. We understood many things in the first part of the season and hopefully now we can show what we are capable of.”

/// FILIP SALAC

• Salac’s hard work last time out in the Italian Grand Prix went unrewarded but the Czech rider is looking to return to the top 10 this weekend in front of what promises to be a capacity crowd at the 4.5km Assen track.
• Salac qualified on the fifth row of the grid for the 2023 Dutch TT but his hopes of ending the weekend in positive fashion were ended by a late retirement caused by a technical issue.
• His best result in Assen came in the 2022 campaign when he finished in 10^th position after an intense battle with Joe Roberts and Manuel Gonzalez.

“I feel strong and ready to do a good race”

“The three-week break is finished and I’m super excited to be back on track and back with the team this weekend in Assen. We didn’t get the result we wanted last time in Mugello but there were some positives to bring to Assen and I’m sure I can be competitive once again this weekend. Assen is a track I love. It is one of my favourite tracks because there are a lot of high-speed sections and a lot of changes of direction. Last year in Assen I felt strong and was fighting for the points but unfortunately I ran out of fuel right at the end of the race. But I feel strong and ready to do a good race this weekend.”