Strong qualifying performance at the Malaysian GP: Baltus second and Canet eighth.
The Fantic Racing team confirmed its excellent form on qualifying Saturday at the Malaysian Grand Prix, on the spectacular Sepang Circuit. In a weekend marked by high temperatures and intense competition, Barry Baltus and Aron Canet had already shown on Friday that they could be protagonists, securing direct access to Q2 thanks to fourth and seventh place in the Practice session.
Saturday began with a positive FP2 for both riders: Canet finished second, confirming a strong race pace, while Baltus focused on race setup, ending in tenth.
In qualifying, Baltus delivered an outstanding performance, stopping the clock at 2’03.420 and securing second place, earning a spot on the front row of the starting grid. Canet, with a time of 2’03.625, will start eighth, in the third row, after a solid and consistent session.
On a challenging track like Sepang — long, technical, with long straights and demanding braking zones — the Fantic Racing riders showed competitiveness and confidence, laying the foundations for a race as protagonists.
Tomorrow the real battle begins: Baltus and Canet are ready to give their all, aiming once again for top positions in Moto2 and a prestigious result for the Fantic Racing team.
Barry Baltus: “Well, it’s been a good weekend from the first lap on Friday. Our pace hasn’t been super fast yet, but we are making progress and working to understand the track better, especially after this morning’s session. FP2 was quick, but not as fast as some others, so there’s still room to improve.
Qualifying went quite well — the lap felt smooth from the first attempt, and we were fast, which is encouraging. Tomorrow we’ll try to make the most of this and ride as strongly as possible, manage our pace, and see where we end up. I’m feeling good, and it’s great to be back on the front row, especially on a track that’s usually a bit challenging for me. This year we’ve made good steps forward, so I’m happy. Of course, this result sends a message in terms of the championship — nothing is decided yet, and everything is still possible."
Aron Canet: “I would have liked to start further up, but eighth is still a solid spot. Tomorrow it will be crucial to maintain a good pace and manage the race carefully until the last lap. I’m ready to give it my all.”
Roberto Locatelli, Fantic Racing Moto2 Team manager : “Great qualifying for Barry Baltus and a solid performance from Aron Canet as well. Barry did an excellent job getting to the front straight away and fighting for pole, ultimately finishing on the front row, which will be crucial tomorrow as the first significant tyre drop is expected after the first 4-5 laps. Canet had a few minor mistakes, but he is only a few tenths behind Barry: the competition is very strong, and tomorrow we aim to fight for the podium with both riders.”
