The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team take on one of the most spectacular challenges of the season this weekend with round seven in this year’s Moto2 World Championship coming from the majestic Mugello track in Italy’s Tuscany mountains.

• Tony Arbolino arrives in Mugello full of determination and motivation to shine in front of what promises to be a passionate home crowd, with Filip Salac setting his sights on a first top 10 of the campaign.
• The action kicks off on Friday morning with the opening practice session starting at 950am local time with lights out for the 19-lap race at 1215pm on Sunday afternoon.

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• After an eventful ride to a hard fought ninth place in last weekend’s Catalunya clash, Arbolino is fired up and ready to deliver a strong result this weekend on home turf.
• One of Arbolino’s eight podiums in a superb 2023 Moto2 season came in last year’s Italian Grand Prix when he finished second from 10^th on the grid.
• And one of the highlights of Arbolino’s career came in Mugello back in 2019 when he took his first World Championship victory from pole position in the Moto3 category.

“The support I get in Mugello is a huge boost”

“I feel we made another positive step forward during the Catalan Grand Prix last weekend and this gives me a big push and a lot of confidence going to my home race in Mugello. We still have some margin to improve but I feel in every round we are making progress and now we must make sure we show our potential this weekend. Racing in front of the amazing Italian fans is always very special. I’ve been fortunate enough to win there before and the support I get will be a big boost.”

/// FILIP SALAC

• Following four successive points scoring finishes, Salac is confident he can race to a season best result this weekend at the fast and flowing Mugello track.
• The Czech rider enjoyed a strong weekend in Mugello in 2023 and after qualifying in fifth position he took the chequered flag in seventh position, which at the time kept him fourth in the World Championship classification.
• Seventh last season is his best result in Mugello, but he was only one second off the win in 11^th in a classic Moto3 battle back in 2021.

“I’m getting more confident and stronger”

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend because Mugello is one of my favourite tracks and in the past, I’ve been able to fight for the podium there. We are moving closer to where we should be and as each race passes, I feel like I’m getting more confident and stronger on the bike. The atmosphere is always very special in Mugello and hopefully we can perform well.”