The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s globe-trotting exploits continue this weekend with Tony Arbolino and Filip Salac moving from Mandalika to the Mobility Resort Motegi for round 16 in the Moto2 World Championship.

• The second of a five-race flyaway sequence takes place in the picturesque mountains of Motegi as Arbolino and Salac look to build on an impressive run of recent results heading to the stop and go 4.8km track.
• The action gets underway at 9.50am local time on Friday morning with FP1 with the 17-lap race due to start at 12.15am on Sunday.

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• The Italian is looking to continue his strong attack in the final phase of the season after he recorded a fifth consecutive top 10 finish with a hard fought seventh place last weekend in Indonesia.
• The 24-year-old was involved in an intense and exciting five-rider fight for the top 10 in last year’s Japanese Grand Prix before taking the chequered flag in 11^th position.
• The first top six finish of Arbolino’s World Championship career came at the Mobility Resort Motegi in the Moto3 race in 2018, and he was also sixth on his first Moto2 appearance in Japan two years ago from the front row.

“We can be back in the podium fight”

“This busy period of the season continues in Japan, and I feel ready to have a strong weekend and I believe we can get back in the podium fight. It was a shame that we couldn’t show our potential in the race in Mandalika after what happened on the first lap, but my pace was strong, and we were able to fight to score some important points. The Motegi track is one I like, and it has a lot of hard braking points which is an area where I know I can be strong. The main goal is to be back at the front once again as we look to finish the season in the best possible way.”

/// FILIP SALAC

• A season best run of five successive points scoring finishes including three top 10 sees Salac continue the intense Asia tour with momentum on his side.
• The Czech rider is full of anticipation heading to the Grand Prix of Japan after he delivered one of his best performances of 2023 at the Mobility Resort Motegi with a brilliant fifth.
• Salac boasts a great record in Moto2 in Japan having started fifth and finishing in the top 10 in his two previous visits.

“We have the potential for a strong result”

“I can’t wait to race in Japan because it is a great country and I love the track. Last year I finished fifth after qualifying fifth, so I know if we work well that I have the potential for a very strong result. The layout suits my style because it has several hard braking points, and I think we can take profit of this. Last weekend didn’t go as well as we hoped in Indonesia but I am convinced we will be much more competitive in Japan. We have shown recently the potential to be inside the top 10, so let’s try and repeat that again this weekend.”