Ahead of a five-week summer break, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team heads to the legendary and historic Assen track in the Netherlands in control of the Moto2 World Championship and eager for more success.

• Sam Lowes and Moto2 World Championship leader Tony Arbolino are fully focused on entering the summer sojourn in positive mood as they get set to tackle the famous high-speed corners of Assen’s technical and fast 4.5km track.
• The action gets underway at 950am local time with P1 and Lowes and Arbolino will compete for glory over 22 laps in Sunday’s race, which is scheduled to get underway at 1215pm.

/// SAM LOWES

• A solid seventh place last weekend in Germany kept Lowes firmly in the hunt for the top three in the World Championship and he is determined to end the opening phase of the 2023 campaign with a top result in Assen.
• Lowes has always been strong and competitive at the technical Assen track although he came away empty-handed last year after a DNF from third on the grid.
• Lowes has high hopes of a big result in Assen this weekend after he finished third from third in 2015 and the 32-year-old was close to the podium in both 2016 and 2021 when he finished in fourth position.

“I look forward to fighting for a podium”

“I always look forward to Assen because it is such a great track with a lot of history. I’ve performed well there in the past and after Italy and Germany it will be a nice way to end the triple-header with a strong result to take some confidence into the summer break. I feel like I’m riding well and the base we have with the bike is very competitive, so I’m ready to put on a good show for what is always a massive crowd. The weather looks like it is going to be great as well, so I go into this weekend looking forward to fighting for a podium finish.”

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• A sixth podium finish in the opening seven races last weekend in Germany means high flying Arbolino arrives in the Netherlands with a 15-point lead in the World Championship.
• One year ago in Assen, Arbolino fought his way through from 13^th to seventh at the chequered flag and he finished just over five seconds away from the win at the end of the 24-lap clash.
• The Italian’s all action and aggressive riding style is perfectly suited to the high-speed Assen layout and one of his four Moto3 wins came in the Dutch TT back in 2019.

“I have no doubt we have a great chance”

“Assen is going to be a very important weekend because I really want to end this first part of the season in a good way. I love Assen and it is a very special track and one that suits my riding style, so I can’t wait to get started on Friday morning. We finished second in Mugello and Sachsenring and now my mind is telling me it is time again to take another win! That is the target as always but if we continue to work like we have done in the first seven races then I have no doubt we have a great chance.”