After a recent successful test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Sam Lowes and Tony Arbolino return to the 4.6km track for race action this weekend in round nine of the 2022 Moto2 World Championship.

• Both Lowes and Arbolino are confident they can be fighting at the front in Sunday’s 22-lap race after they were able to produce a fast and consistent race pace during the two-day test last month.
• Preparations for the Catalunya clash get underway at 1055am local time on Friday morning.

/// SAM LOWES

• A front row start and podium challenge in Mugello went unrewarded for Lowes, which makes him doubly determined to bounce back with a strong showing in Catalunya this weekend.
• The Briton is a big fan of the fast and flowing Catalunya layout and his best result in Barcelona was second in 2020 from the front row.

“Catalunya is a track I really love, and I can’t wait to get going”

“I’m really looking forward to going to Barcelona because we had a good test there a few weeks ago and it is a track I really love. We are currently in a run of races where we have not got the results we want or deserve, so I can’t wait to get to Catalunya and work hard over the weekend and get some points back on the board.”

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• Arbolino thrilled his home crowd in Italy last weekend with a valiant podium challenge before he settled for 13 valuable points with a fourth place that puts him only 25-points off the lead in the World Championship.
• The Italian has fond memories of the Catalunya circuit after he qualified on pole position for the 2020 Moto3 encounter and finished in second position.

“I’m looking forward to another strong weekend”

“We come from a weekend in Mugello where we closed the gap at the top of the World Championship and that makes me very motivated for Barcelona. My crew did an amazing job to give me a very competitive bike in Mugello and I’m looking forward to making a strong result this weekend. I want to be faster and stronger in all areas and we will keep working to improve.”