Elf Marc VDS Racing Team riders Tony Arbolino and Filip Salac experienced mixed fortunes during a one-day test session at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain today.

• As well as working to find improvements for the final 10 rounds of this year’s Moto2 World Championship campaign, one key target was to gain experience using Pirelli tyres at the 5.077km Aragon track, which returns to the Grand Prix calendar next month. 
• The test took place in scorching hot conditions with ambient temperatures peaking at over 30 degrees and this allowed Arbolino to carry out important set-up work to improve consistency on used tyres.
• Salac was unfortunately denied the chance to carry out his busy test schedule after an early crash ended his test.

/// TONY ARBOLINO: 87 laps

• Without the time constraints of a race weekend, Arbolino and his crew worked methodically through a range of front and rear suspension modifications aimed at maintaining a fast pace on worn rubber.
• The Italian was delighted with progress made throughout the day and he left Aragon heading to the next race in Austria fully confident he can be in the mix for the podium places in round 11.

“I felt fast and comfortable on the bike”

“Today was a really positive day for me. We were able to try a few things that we don’t have time to properly assess during a race weekend. I’m happy about my outright lap time but what pleases me more than anything is my rhythm. Being fast and consistent over the longer distance was the main target of the test and we achieved that. I felt fast and really comfortable with the bike and the changes we made gave us the feeling we hoped. This test gives me a boost going to Austria next week and I feel like our time is coming.”

/// FILIP SALAC: 2 laps

• Eager to take advantage of the available track time after missing the recent Assen and Sachsenring races, Salac unfortunately completed just two full laps in the morning session when he suffered a high-side crash entering into turn 9.

“We will keep fighting and working to improve the situation”

“This test didn’t go as we’d hoped and unfortunately that feels like the story of the last few weeks. Today was very important for me after missing so much track time in Assen and Sachsenring but on only my third lap I suffered a big high-side. We are currently investigating what happened. Now, all we can do is try and put this behind us as quickly as possible. The bad luck carries on, but we will keep fighting and keep working to improve the situation.”