Sam Lowes used Friday’s two practice sessions at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli to evaluate Dunlop’s two rear tyre options, and ended the day in 5th, while Tony Arbolino was 18th.

• Elf Marc VDS Racing Team riders Sam Lowes and Tony Arbolino used Friday to prepare for the penultimate European race of the season – the San Marino GP – and round 12 of the 2023 season.
• Both riders enjoyed perfect conditions throughout Friday with both sessions taking place under sunny skies. Track temperatures rose from 30 degrees in P1 to 44 degrees in P2.

/// SAM LOWES, 5th – 1’36.658

• Sam had a clear strategy for Friday: P1 was used to assess Dunlop’s harder rear tyre, while the afternoon was for the softer option. The Briton started the day well, finishing P1 in 10th place.
• The 32-year old posted two solid runs in P2 either side of stopping for a small set-up adjustment. Sam’s second run was impressive, with all 5 laps coming in the 1’36s.

“Tomorrow we will fight for the front row2

“In P1 we focussed on the hard rear tyre all session. Then in P2 we focussed on the softer rear tyre for the full session to try and understand which one will be best for the race. The day was quite positive. Obviously when you have the new rear tyre and the full tank of fuel, it’s not great for the time attack, but our rhythm was quite good. We’re missing in a few areas but I stopped mid-way through P2 and made a change to the bike. So, tomorrow morning with a new tyre we can do a nice step for the lap time. Overall, I’m happy. We’ve evaluated both tyres, and it’s been a good day. We’ll have a good sleep tonight, do a nice lap tomorrow and fight for the front row.”

/// TONY ARBOLINO, 18th – 1’37.134

• Keen to react after a disappointing Catalan GP, Tony started Friday well, enjoying the improved grip offered up by the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in P1 and finished 9th.
• In the afternoon, Tony encountered some issues when trying to hold his line in the middle of the corner, and will use Saturday morning’s session to improve on his 17th fastest time.

“We can’t be faster in certain points in the middle of the corner”

“This morning we started with the base setting we know. The pace was not so bad. We worked a bit and did some fine-tuning to improve my feeling. But, like in recent weeks, it looks like we can’t be faster in certain points in the middle of the corner. We need to keep going and keep working on that. We have tomorrow morning, which will be a faster session. That’s what we can do: keep believing we can do this and we’ll have another possibility to feel better tomorrow morning.”