Vietti and Arbolino, unfulfilled promises: Italy in Moto2 without new leaders

From dream to slowdown: Celestino Vietti and Tony Arbolino between sporadic podiums, injuries, and choices that don’t pay off.

They were considered two major Italian prospects in Moto2 after distinguishing themselves in Moto3, with talk even of a not-too-distant step up to MotoGP. Celestino Vietti and Tony Arbolino, however, have been stuck for years in the intermediate class, sometimes achieving notable results but never truly managing to shine. Moto2 confirms itself as a highly selective category, capable of shaping a rider’s fate on the road to the top class. But an Italy struggling in motorsport expected a lot from both; instead, results tell us that, after the Italians who have made it to the premier class, there’s really no one left capable of emerging in the World Championship, and the future is anything but rosy...

His rise through the lower class was rather rapid. Joining Moto3 mid-season at the end of 2018, in 2019 he completed his first full year, also stepping onto the podium, and the following year he took his first wins, finishing 5th in the championship. In 2021 he moved up to Moto2 with the then VR46 Racing Team and was already noticeable near the podium, which he reached the following season, even recording his first category victories before a string of DNFs in the second half of the championship. Meanwhile, in mid-2022 the team struck a deal with Fantic, which since then has given its name to the squad, essentially taking over its Moto2 spot. Vietti began 2023 without particular highs or lows, then came the first win and another podium, before an injury and more DNFs at the end of the season. In 2024 he switched to Red Bull KTM Ajo: three wins, a podium, a pole, but also two injuries and 7th overall. From 2025 everything changes, moving to Boscoscuro and the Speed Up team, now SpeedRS: last year he finished 7th with one win and three podiums; this year, in 12 GPs, he has taken three podiums, two DNFs, and one finish outside the top 10, currently 7th and 85.5 points behind leader Gonzalez.

He moved up with a solid résumé from the lower class: notably, he fought for the Moto3 crown in 2020 right up to the last race, ultimately yielding to Arenas but holding off Ogura thanks to his only win of the season, which earned him the runner-up spot. Like the aforementioned colleague, he stepped into Moto2 in 2021, took a while to make progress, but 2023 looked like the breakthrough year. Three wins, several podiums, only two finishes outside the points, runner-up for the Lombard rider with Acosta as champion. In 2024, however, came a clear step back: only in the second half of the season did a few flashes appear, namely three consecutive podiums, and indeed the only ones of the year. In 2025 everything changes: he left the KALEX for the Boscoscuro but, after a good start, results nosedived... This year he’s back with the German brand and the Fantic team, but he’s struggling a lot: after 12 GPs his best result is a 7th place in Brazil; the turning point could have come in the last GP at Silverstone but then came the crash while he was charging through the field and already in podium contention. A scene that even made his friend Quartararo, watching from the pit wall, despair.

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