Canet finished eighth despite a crash, thanks to the incredible work of the Fantic Racing team that got him back on track for one final lap. Baltus secured tenth and is ready for the race.

Fantic Racing started the Australian Grand Prix weekend at Phillip Island with determination, on a track featuring extremely variable weather conditions.

Wind, intermittent rain, and a constantly changing surface made grip management particularly challenging.

After a positive Practice session that secured direct access to Q2 for both riders, Saturday began with FP2 heavily affected by the weather: the session was barely run, with rain in the first part and the track progressively drying. In this context, Barry Baltus posted a strong fourth-fastest time, while Aron Canet wisely chose not to risk pushing and did not complete a flying lap.

Qualifying then delivered plenty of drama. Canet crashed after just a few corners on the out-lap, but thanks to outstanding teamwork, he was able to return to the track against all odds. After pushing his bike back to the box through the paddock — with assistance from team manager Roberto Locatelli — the Fantic mechanics performed a true masterstroke: in less than ten minutes, they prepared the bike for a final attempt.

With only one flying lap available, Canet set the eighth-fastest time, securing a valuable third row and once again showing grit and determination.

Baltus finished tenth, confirming his steady progress and strong race pace, which leaves him well-prepared for Sunday’s race.

Fantic Racing concludes a challenging but promising day, with both riders in the top ten and full confidence to fight for strong results in the race.

Aron Canet: “It was a particolar day, as we couldn’t complete any laps in the first practice session due to the conditions. In qualifying, I crashed on the first lap, but the team did an extraordinary job. I closed my eyes and we managed to get through it, securing a fantastic third row on the grid. I’m very satisfied with the result.”

Barry Baltus: “Well, it’s definitely not the grid position we were hoping for. Yesterday it was quite challenging to find the rhythm, and missing this morning’s session didn’t help. Still, the feeling with the bike is quite good, and I managed to put in a solid lap without the slipstream of other riders. Tomorrow will be about overtaking and gaining positions, but we are confident that we can be fast and bring home as many points as possible.”

Roberto Locatelli, Team Manager Fantic Racing: “Today’s qualifying sessions delivered great emotions, both in front of the television and in the paddock. We had to make some adjustments to Aron’s bike, but the most rewarding part was seeing the entire team working in perfect coordination: I’m truly proud to be part of Fantic Racing. Now the bike is ready, and tomorrow we aim to fight for top positions with Canet. For Baltus, there were some minor issues on his last attempt with the new tire, but he showed he is fast, even during yesterday afternoon’s free practice sessions. We are satisfied with how things went today, and with a clearer situation, we look forward to tomorrow’s race with confidence, aiming for great results.”