Tony Arbolino has secured his place on the Moto2 grid by signing a two-year contract to lead the Forward Racing team in the upcoming season. After finishing second to Pedro Acosta in the 2023 Moto2 championship, Arbolino dropped to tenth the next year when Pirelli replaced Dunlop as the series’ tyre provider.
In 2025, the Italian rider switched from the Marc VDS/Kalex team to the Pramac Yamaha/Boscoscuro setup, aiming for a future spot in MotoGP aboard an M1 bike. Despite an early podium finish at COTA, he ultimately ended the season in 19th place. This year, Arbolino returned to the Kalex chassis with Fantic, where his best finish has been fifth place. He was also a contender for victory at Silverstone before crashing, much to the disappointment of his close friend Fabio Quartararo.
Forward Racing has emerged as one of Moto2’s biggest surprises in 2026, with Alex Escrig finishing fourth in Brazil and earning the team’s first podium in over ten years at Silverstone. As Escrig moves to Italtrans next season, Arbolino will step up as Forward’s lead rider.
“I’m genuinely thrilled about this new venture and made this decision with my heart,” Arbolino said. “This project really excites me, and right from the start, I sensed strong energy and authentic enthusiasm from everyone on the team. I plan to give 110%, confident that I have made the right choice. It will be an incredible journey, one we get to write and share together. I want to thank everyone who helped make this possible—I can’t wait to get started.”
Martina Cuzari from Forward added, “Tony brings experience, speed, and passion—traits that align perfectly with the Forward Factory Team’s core values and philosophy. This collaboration marks a new chapter for us and reaffirms our commitment to investing in a solid and ambitious future. We are eager to take on this challenge with enthusiasm, professionalism, and determination to reach our goals. We warmly welcome Tony to the Forward Factory Team family and look forward to this new adventure together.”
Forward’s progress this season has been notable, climbing from just 4 points in 2023 to already 63 points in 2026, thanks in part to their results at Silverstone and Goiania. Meanwhile, Arbolino’s former teammate Izan Guevara is set to move up to MotoGP with Pramac Yamaha next year.
Fan Take:
This signing is a major boost for Forward Racing, showing the team’s commitment to becoming a top contender in Moto2. For fans, Arbolino’s move signals an exciting era ahead, where emerging talent and ambitious teams could reshape the landscape of the sport.
Source: www.crash.net
