Moto2: ELF Marc VDS reveal striking new livery

The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team has unveiled its stunning new Moto2 livery ahead of the 2021 season.

The team, which continues with Sam Lowes and Augusto Fernandez this year, joined forces with Elf during the off-season, with the French oil company becoming the team’s title sponsor. 

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As a result, the blue design from recent campaigns has disappeared. In its place is a striking burgundy, yellow, orange and dark grey design which incorporates the Belgian team’s signature logo. The dark grey feature is finished in a carbon fibre effect, with Elf and Beta as the two focal sponsors. 

Lowes enters his second campaign with the team as one of the title favourites. The Brit became stronger and stronger as the season went on last year, winning three consecutive races at Le Mans and both of the Aragon events. These victories came after back-to-back podiums at Misano and Barcelona. 

Unfortunately, a crash at Valencia led to two broken bones in Lowes’ right hand and despite a valiant effort in the final race at Portimao, finishing third, the 30-year-old lost out on the title by nine points. Lowes had also missed the opening race of the season in Qatar due to injury. 

“I’m very happy with the pre-season I’ve had,” Lowes said. “I’ve prepared well and I’m really looking forward to the start of the season. Last year I had a great season. Maybe it was the best of my career and this year I hope to take advantage of everything we learned, fine tune some details and compete again with the fastest riders. Working session by session, keeping calm and not pushing too much when it is not necessary are some of the lessons I learned in 2020.

“I’m sure that in 2021 they will be of great help to me. The World Championship will be tight because there are many riders who are at a high level, but I’m going to give everything to fight to win the Moto2 World Championship.”

Fernandez has a new crew chief for 2021 in Lucio Nicastro. The three-time Moto2 race winner will hope to improve on his consistency this campaign and return to the podium after a slightly difficult 2020 season.

“My main goal this year is to have fun on the bike again,” Fernandez admits. “I’m convinced that this is the best way to get results and to be able to fight again at the front of the race on a regular basis. I have prepared well during the winter and I am very happy with the work we are doing with the team and my new crew chief to achieve this goal. I have a good feeling and even though it was hard, I learned a lot of things last year that I will try and improve in 2021.

“The first tests have gone well, so I’m really looking forward to Qatar and seeing how it will be when we start racing again. I think it will be a good year and I will really enjoy it.”

Elf Marc VDS Racing has competed in every Moto2 season since its creation in 2010 and have won the title on three occasions. Tito Rabat clinched their first crown in 2014, with Franco Morbidelli and Alex Marquez taking top spot in 2017 and 2019 respectively. 

“I can’t wait to start our twelfth season in the Moto2 World Championship,” team owner Marc van der Straten added. “Although it will be a year marked again by the pandemic, we hope it will be less disruptive than 2020 and we can enjoy our great passion like always. I am very proud to have Sam Lowes and Augusto Fernandez representing our colours for the second consecutive season and to have Elf as an important partner.

“I am convinced that our two riders and the whole team will work hard and give everything on track to give us great moments and good results. As always, I would like to thank our partners for their invaluable support, as without them our adventure would not be the same.”

The official Moto3 and Moto2 Qatar test takes place on March 19, with the season opener scheduled to take place at the same venue on March 28.