The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is set for the second of a four race flyaway tour as Sam Lowes and Tony Arbolino ready themselves for the demanding heat and humidity at the Buriram track in Thailand.

•  Just five days after the Japanese Grand Prix, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team remains in South East Asia for the much-anticipated return to Thailand for the first time since the 2019 World Championship campaign.

Lowes and Arbolino will be on track preparing for the 24-lap race when Free Practice commences at 955am local time on Friday morning.

/// SAM LOWES

•  After taking the difficult decision to withdraw from the Motegi round in Japan after qualifying last weekend, Lowes is looking forward to returning to action in Thailand this weekend as he steps up his recovery from recent left shoulder and arm injuries.
• A search for his points in Buriram is all the motivation the 32-year-old Briton needs to get back on his Kalex machine this weekend in round 17 of 20.

“I want to continue my recovery in a positive way”

“There’s been no time for me to relax in between Japan and Thailand because I’ve been fully focused and working hard on getting myself in the best possible shape for this weekend in Buriram. I need seat time to improve my feeling on the bike and to build up my fitness and the target is to do a good job this weekend and be able to finish the race. It was a shame that I couldn’t race in Japan but it still felt great to be back on the bike and being back with my crew again. I’m excited to be back in Buriram because the support from the fans and the atmosphere is really special and I want to continue my recovery in a positive way looking to have a strong finish to the season.”

/// TONY ARBOLINO

• Arbolino made a positive start to the most intense period of this year’s Moto2 World Championship when he fought for the podium before taking the chequered flag last weekend in Japan in a hard earned sixth place.
• The Italian is now relishing the challenge of tackling the Buriram track again after scoring points in his two previous races in Thailand with a best result of 10^th in the 2019 Moto3 race.

“I think we have a great chance of a podium this weekend”

“Japan was a very positive weekend for me and I’m looking to be even closer to the front this weekend in Buriram because I know we have the speed. We need to take a step to be stronger in the second part of the race but we are gaining a lot of experience and that will help us hopefully be more competitive this weekend. My motivation is all concentrated on being on the podium again and I think we have a great chance again this weekend.”