The first of 12 European rounds in a bumper Moto2 World Championship season takes the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team to the jaw-dropping Algarve International Circuit in Portugal this weekend.

• After an unpredictable opening round of the campaign under the night lights in Qatar earlier this month, Tony Arbolino is eager to unleash his full potential and get his title challenge up and running in Portimao.
• The Italian is the sole entry for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team this weekend, with Filip Salac currently undertaking an intensive rehabilitation after he underwent arm pump surgery in Barcelona last week.
• The action gets underway on Portgual’s picturesque Algarve Coast at 950am local time on Friday, with the 21-lap race scheduled for lights out at 1215pm on Sunday afternoon.

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• A lack of rear grip prevented Arbolino from collecting any points in Qatar’s recent season opener, which has only strengthened the 23-year-old’s determination to bounce back strongly this weekend.
• Arbolino’s aggressive riding style is perfectly suited to the high-speed undulation of Portimao and that was clear for all to see when he made a stunning recovery from 27^th on the grid to fifth in Moto3 in 2020.
• Portimao hosted round one in 2023 and Arbolino produced one of his awesome charges through the field to fight his way through from ninth to third at the end of 21-laps.

“I’m full of motivation to get a good result”

“I really can’t wait to arrive in Portimao so we can quickly try and forget about what happened at the opening race in Qatar. It has been an important week for all of us to try and understand and analyse what happened in Qatar and to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I am convinced we will be much stronger and more competitive in Portimao. I am full of motivation to get a good result and ready to fight for the positions I know we can be in.”