Both Fantic riders in strong form and ready to fight at the front for Round 8 of the Moto2 World Championship.
Fantic Racing Lino Sonego continues to prove its pace in the Moto2 World Championship, delivering another strong qualifying performance at MotorLand Aragón. In a tightly contested session under intense heat, Barry Baltus secured a brilliant second place on the grid with a lap of 1'50.162, while teammate Aron Canet posted a 1'50.220 to line up fourth for tomorrow’s race.
The weekend got off to a promising start for both riders, who showed excellent speed from the first free practice sessions and comfortably earned direct access to Q2. In qualifying, Baltus came tantalizingly close to pole position, pushing hard on his final flying lap before a small mistake in the last sector cost him the top spot. Canet, too, was on a strong lap before a slight mistake in the final sector prevented him from improving his time. With both riders starting from the second row, Fantic Racing Lino Sonego is well-positioned for a strong race. Tyre management will be key in Sunday’s showdown, with high track temperatures expected to play a decisive role. After a string of competitive performances in recent rounds, the team is fully focused on fighting for another podium — and defending its lead in the Team standings.
Barry Baltus: "I'm really happy to be back on the front row. Of course, I would have liked to take pole, but I made a small mistake on my last flying lap. Still, starting at the front is very positive—having clear space into Turn 1 is key. Tomorrow will be a tough race with the high temperatures and tyre management, but it’s the same for everyone. The feeling is much better than last weekend and we’re ready to fight. The goal is to score as many points as possible after the DNF at Silverstone. Right now, I’m not thinking about the championship—I’m focused on doing my best every session, every lap. We’ll look at the standings at the end of the season. For now, it’s all about enjoying the race and giving everything on track."
Aron Canet: "A small mistake on the final lap cost us the pole position. I was improving my time, but what really matters is that the feeling with the bike is very, very good. Tomorrow we know we can aim for the top — the goal is to fight for the victory."
Roberto Locatelli, Team Manager Fantic Racing Lino Sonego: "It’s been a great Saturday for the Fantic Racing Team, and I want everyone to understand how important today’s performance is. Barry Baltus did an excellent job: he read the conditions perfectly in what was a very tricky qualifying session, with extreme heat and tight competition. In a situation where riders were watching and waiting on each other, he used his speed wisely within the group to secure a brilliant second place. Aron Canet also delivered a fantastic performance. He was the fastest up to sector three on his final lap, making the most of the fresh tyre. He was improving again, but a small mistake in the last sector kept him off the front row. That said, we’re pleased with the overall performance. For us, the real target is always Sunday — and while today was a great Saturday, we want Sunday to be even greater."
