Tony Arbolino believes a competitive showing at 𝐆next weekend’s 2022 Moto2 season opener in Qatar is a very r🌞ealistic possibility. 

The Italian, who took part in his first official test for Elf Marc VDS earlier in the week, finished the three day Portimao test in 11th spot - +1🥃.066s down on curreღnt Moto3 world champion Pedro Acosta. 

While Arbolino enjoyed a solid and consistent test, the same can’t be said for team-mate Sam Lowes who had to miss out on the final day due to a tendinitis problem in 🎃his left hand. 

Although Lowes is aiming to be ready for the Qatar grand prix in just ten days t🧸ime, Arbolino could be leading the team’s charge as he did during the final day of testing. 

"We have worked incredibly hard over these three days in Portimao, and we made a lot of changes to the bike 🌃to find our ideal base set-up heading to the first race in Qatar," said Arbolino. 

"The crew really 💮had to work so ha💎rd but I’m sure this will be rewarded when we go racing. 

"We have understood a lot of things about our package at this test and we also found solutions to some of our proble🌌ms, so we go to Qatar optimistic that we can be competitive. 

"If we continue 🌺to work in the way ܫwe have done during winter testing then we can achieve some great results together this season. My crew and I go to Qatar fully motivated to show our best potential in the first race."

While the Moto2 class is shaping up to be as compet🌳itive as ever in 2022, Arbolino could have a real chance of achieving his best result yet, which would mean a maiden intermediate class podi꧟um. 

As a rookie Ar⛦bolino ♎claimed four top ten finishes with a best result of fourth coming at Le Mans.