The hot afternoon conditions at Mugello meant both Elf Marc VDS Racing Team riders Tony Arbolino and Filip Salac had a tough qualifying, where they placed 16^th and 19^th respectively.

• The glorious Mugello circuit played host to qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday. After intermittent rain through Friday, conditions were perfect with Moto2 Q2 taking place in track temperatures of 45 degrees.
• The action at the legendary Tuscan venue starts on Sunday with the 19-lap race getting underway at 12:15 local time.

/// TONY ARBOLINO, 16^th – 1’50.894

• After a strong showing on Friday, Tony enjoyed a competitive morning, as he set his fastest lap at the start of his second run in P2. That was enough for 12^th place.
• Yet a few setting changes didn’t pay off the for the Italian in Q2, held in much hotter conditions. Tony didn’t feel entirely comfortable and could only manage 16^th but is confident in his chances tomorrow after reverting to his morning set-up.

“We will try to keep a good pace to fight for the best possible result in my home race”

“Another tough qualifying! We’ve been trying some things on the bike as we had kept the same setting through the weekend. We didn’t find the right way with the set-up in Q2 today so we’ll go back to the setting we had in the bike as before, like this morning more or less. Tomorrow’s another day and let’s see how it goes. We’ll aim for a good start and try to keep a good pace so we can fight for the best possible result in my home race.”

/// FILIP SALAC, 19^th – 1’50.850

• Filip’s times in the morning P2 session didn’t catch the eye. Yet the Czech rider was mostly working on used tyres, showing a solid rhythm and posting four laps in the 1’52s. He was unable to grab a place in the top 14 late on however. 16^th meant he went into Q1.
• The 22-year old was prepared to fight for a place in the top 4 in Q1, but encountered some unexpected chatter in the front end of his bike, which limited him to 5^th in the session, and 19^th on the grid.

“We’ve still managed to improve some areas where I was struggling”

“Well, it was not an easy day. Even if the position isn’t so good, we’ve still managed to improve some areas where I was struggling. I was riding all day alone and the lap times weren’t bad. Still, it’s not enough. I lost a place in Q1 by half a tenth and that makes me a bit sad because I know we can do better. I gave my all in that session but I had a bit of chatter in the front so we need to check the data with my guys to try and fix it for tomorrow. I need to change something. Let’s see tomorrow. Our pace this morning with used tyres wasn’t so bad. I was quite surprised by it and how I could keep a good speed even after many laps. Tomorrow is a long race. It will be hot so let’s see what happens and how it pans out. One thing’s for sure: I’ll give it my all.”