2023-07-19 20:06:31
Just a few days after announcing his new World Superbike adventure with Sam Lowes in 2024, Elf Marc VDS Racing team welcomes Czech driver Salac to its ranks for what will be his third season in Moto2 next year, confirming his arrival in 2024 to cover the loss that Lowes will leave.
Salac has attracted the attention of several teams during this 2023 campaign, and after eight rounds he occupies the sixth position in the current standings, with a best result of second place this year at Le Mans, where he finished behind the current Elf Marc VDS Racing rider and Moto2 World Championship leader, Tony Arbolino. His other podium in Moto2 was also a second place behind Arbolino in a thrilling Thai Grand Prix last October.
Another five top 10 finishes so far this season have highlighted Salac’s rapid progression in his second season in Moto2, enough to impress the Belgian team. Born in 2001, Salac began his career in the Grand Prix paddock at the 2016 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and later competed in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Championship.
His first full season in the World Championship came in 2019, when he raced for the PruestelGP Team aboard a KTM, which ended with an excellent fifth place in the final round in Valencia. He switched to Honda machinery with the Rivacold Snipers Team in 2020 before returning to the PruestelGP squad in mid-2021.
Gresini Racing gave him the opportunity to move up to Moto2 in 2022, highlighting his second place in Buriram. He remained with the Italian squad in 2023 and took pole position at the season opening round in Portugal, and has scored six top-10 finishes in the first eight races.
Read also: Razgatlioglu warns Bautista: “The championship is not over yet”
“It’s like a dream come true”, Salak said. “I’ve been watching races since I was a kid and I have always thought that Marc VDS was an incredible team in which Tito Rabat, Franco Morbidelli and Alex Márquez won the title. And Jack Miller won in MotoGP at Assen. I have never forgotten those moments and that is why signing for Marc VDS has always been my goal. Being such a strong and competitive team every season, my ambition will be high. The objective will be to be regularly in the top five and get as many podiums as possible. There will be pressure, as the team will provide me with the best material, experience and effort. But it is positive pressure to repay the faith placed in me. I will do my best, as I always do. I am a calm rider and not too aggressive. I am able to think before acting and analyze when I can improve. I like to work hard and focus on improving. I am also a family person who likes to have fun. I think I can bring my positive energy to the team, since I really like to have a good relationship with the staff and enjoy everything I do. Finally, I want to thank the team and in particular Marc van der Straten for trusting me and all the sponsors who have helped me achieve my dreams so far.”
#Elf #Marc #VDS #Racing #signs #Filip #Salac #Moto2 #campaign