Tony Arbolino was 12 ^th and Filip Salac 15^th in the first Free Practice session of the year in Qatar, while a surprise rain shower meant neither rider rode during the evening’s Practice 1.

• The first session of the 2024 – now called Free Practice – took place in hot, dry conditions at the Lusail International Circuit on Friday, while the second – Practice 1 – was held in wet conditions due to a surprise shower of rain.
• Like 23 other riders, Elf Marc VDS Racing Team riders Tony Arbolino and Filip Salac decided to sit out the second session, as good weather is forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Both will focus on tomorrow afternoon’s Practice 2, which will decide who enters Q2 automatically.

/// TONY ARBOLINO, Free Practice: 12^th – 1’58.950

• Tony used the day’s first session to work toward the race. As the track was in good condition, he used just one tyre, and finished 12^th, 0.577s off the top.
• Keen to gain further understanding aboard the new Pirelli tyres, the Italian did a solid eight-lap run in Free Practice, when he posted two of his quicker times in the final two laps. Tony was delighted with his feeling aboard the bike during the run.

“I have a really amazing feeling with the bike”

“It was a strange day. We were working really well on our race pace in Free Practice and it didn’t make sense to put a new tyre at the end of that session. We are now focussed on tomorrow. It’s a shame we weren’t able to ride in Practice 1 and get more experience with our package this year. But it is what it is. I have a really amazing feeling with the bike so we’ll keep that for tomorrow.”

/// FILIP SALAC, Free Practice:  15^th – 1’59.105

• Filip started his first Grand Prix in the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team solidly, setting the 15^th fastest time in Free Practice, just 0.7s off the top.
• Aside from suffering a little from arm pump during the session, the Czech rider was pleased with his feeling aboard the bike and has clear ideas on what to improve for Saturday.

“I had a bit of a problem with arm pump, but the bike was good”

“Well, the first day is done. We didn’t do the second session because it will be dry for the rest of the weekend. It had no meaning to go out. Free Practice wasn’t bad. We were quite fast. I had a bit of a problem with arm pump, but the bike was good. We will try to improve it a little for tomorrow and that’s the main thing ahead of qualifying.”