An excellent late lap saw Tony Arbolino rise to 5^th place in qualifying for the first Moto2 round of 2024, while Filip Salac placed 19^th.

• After rain surprisingly complicated matters on Friday, causing Elf Marc VDS Racing Team riders Tony Arbolino and Filip Salac to miss the entirety of Practice 1, the Moto2 field was relieved to enjoy dry running throughout Saturday.
• As a new Moto2 era begins with Pirelli tyres, lap times were faster than ever in Qatar. Last year’s lap record was broken by 0.57s in Q2, with Arbolino lapping the 5.38km Lusail International Circuit 0.091s faster than the previous record.

/// TONY ARBOLINO, 5^th – 1’57.214

• Having worked principally on race rhythm in Free Practice, Tony started Saturday strongly, rising to 3^rd in Practice 2 with a super late lap.
• The 23-year old carried that speed into Q2 as he jumped up to fifth in the closing minutes, ending the session just 0.4s off pole. It’s Tony’s best qualifying result since the British GP last August, 12 races ago.

“The feeling is right and how I want it to be”

“It was a great Saturday. It’s a bit of a shame because I feel I didn’t show my full potential in qualifying. But the feeling is right and how I want it to be. The team are also working really well. I think we should keep this mentality and understand what was different in these night conditions compared to earlier in the day, when I felt just a little stronger. Anyway, we have to take it easy tomorrow and make a great start in the race before going for the result we know we can do.”

/// FILIP SALAC, 19^th – 1’57.982

• After a tricky first day in Qatar, Filip continued to struggle with arm pump issues through Saturday, meaning he could put together no more than three consecutive laps. He ended Practice 2 in 18^th.
• That meant the Czech rider had to pass through Q1. Filip was unable to get the best out of his Pirelli tyres in the first two laps of the session, when the Italian rubber is at its best, meaning he was 5^th in the session, and 19^th on tomorrow’s grid.

“I wasn’t able to set a fast lap in the first two laps when the tyre was good”

“It was a difficult day for us. I’m still having a lot of problems with my arm and I’m not able to do more than three fast laps in a row. I’m upset to be 19^th in qualifying. I wasn’t able to set a fast lap in the first two laps when the tyre was good. That was the key point of Q1 and I didn’t do manage to make it work. Let’s see how the race will be tomorrow. I’m confident we can find something to improve. We have to keep working, but I’m confident we can do a good start and recover a lot of places in tomorrow’s race.”