Tony Arbolino heading to Elf Marc VDS Racing for 2022

Moto3 race winner and current Moto2 rookie Tony Arbolino will join the multi-title winning Marc VDS team for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

The Italian, 21, currently competes for Intact GP, with whom he scored a fourth-place finish at Le Mans earlier this season.

However, Arbolino has failed to score points at seven other races, leaving him just 16th in the world championship and fourth in the rookie standings.

Nevertheless, team owner Marc van der Straten has seen enough to be convinced of Arbolino's "great potential" and "strength to compete and stand up to any opponent. We are eager to embark on this new adventure together with a rider who shares our philosophy and way of doing things."

Arbolino, last year's Moto3 title runner-up, previously took three wins and 12 podiums in the junior class.

"I'm really very happy to be part of this project," Arbolino said. "I think it's a great opportunity to improve and keep moving forward in my career. I chose this team precisely because I think it is one of the best in the category and the connection I felt was immediate.

"They wanted me and I wanted them, and this is something very important for me. I needed this change, and I am proud that Marc van der Straten and his team have trusted me to represent them.

"I will do my best to show my talent and I will work hard to get the best possible results. The goal will be to fight consistently with the fastest riders in the category and be battling for podiums and victories.”

Marc VDS, which won the Moto2 title in 2014, 2017 and 2019, currently fields Sam Lowes and Augusto Fernandez, who are fourth and sixth in the world championship respectively. Fernandez is being linked with a move to Ajo for 2022.