After announcing the extension of his contract with Fantic Racing Moto2, Aron Canet reaffirmed his status as a Moto2 frontrunner in Spielberg. He found the right feeling with the bike early on, finishing Friday’s practice with the fourth-best time. In qualifying, he further improved to secure second place, just 58 thousandths off pole. He earned an important front-row start, his second in a row. In the race, Aron got off to a strong start, immediately taking the lead and remaining in the battle for a top-3 finish throughout. However, in his attempt to overtake Lopez, he was passed by Dixon, ultimately crossing the line in fourth by a whisker.

For Xavi Cardelus, it was a weekend of steady growth. Starting off on the back foot, partly due to the aftermath of his injury, Xavi tested several set up solutions to find the best compromise for his riding style. He started well and gained positions on the first lap, but a long lap penalty (a consequence of his fall under the yellow flag in Silverstone) caused him to lose contact with the group. He finished 26th.

Aron Canet:
“It was a positive day but we can’t be completely satisfied because we fought for the podium throughout the race and, in the end, the fourth place does not reflect our real potential. It was my best start of the season and the pace was good even if the Red Bull ring is not among my favourite circuits. The good thing is that we are fast also on the tracks that are challenging for us.”

Xavi Cardelus:
“For me, it was an important day of growth. I gained positions at the start, but unfortunately, the long lap penalty caused me to drop back and lose contact with the group. In tomorrow’s test, I will have the opportunity to improve my feeling, and it will definitely help me in the upcoming races.”

Roberto Locatelli Fantic Racing Moto2 Team Manager: 
“It was a positive race: we started from the front row and fought for the podium, which we narrowly missed. On the positive side, we were competitive all weekend, from the first session to the race. This shows that we are working well. Beating our opponents is never easy, as there may be someone stronger on a specific weekend, but we were among the fastest. Xavi completed the race without any major difficulties, which provided a good opportunity for his continued growth. He still needs to find the perfect balance, and tomorrow’s test day will be important for him.”