First-ever career pole position for the Belgian rider and a new all-time lap record. Bad luck for Canet, who will start from 17th after a harmless crash in Q2. Strong showing also from Mattia Pasini, who set the 8th fastest time and was the top Italian on track.
It was an unforgettable Saturday for Fantic Racing Lino Sonego at the Brno circuit: Barry Baltus secured his first-ever Moto2 pole position, clocking a stunning 1’58.322, setting a new all-time lap record for the category.
The result came somewhat unexpectedly after a tough Friday, when rain affected the final minutes of practice, leaving the Belgian 19th. But Baltus didn’t let that shake him. On Saturday morning, he immediately found the right setup in FP2, dominated Q1, and sealed the job with a flawless performance in Q2.
On the other side of the garage, it was a much more complicated day for Aron Canet. The Spaniard crashed on his very first flying lap in Q2. He managed to bring the bike back to the pits, and thanks to the incredible effort of the mechanics, he returned to the track. However, he narrowly missed the timing to cross the line and start a valid lap before the checkered flag. He will start from 17th position tomorrow, but with Brno being a wide circuit with plenty of overtaking opportunities, he will aim to fight his way back through the field.
Among the standout performances of the day was also Mattia Pasini, competing as a wild card with Fantic Racing Redemption. After finishing 6th in Friday’s practice, he delivered an excellent performance in Q2 by claiming 8th position, making him the top Italian rider in qualifying. He will line up on the third row tomorrow, ready to fight and showcase all his talent and experience.
All eyes now turn to Sunday’s race at the Czech GP, with Baltus starting from pole and Canet chasing a comeback. Fantic Racing is in the mix — and plans to stay there!
Barry Baltus: “It’s incredible to be on pole. If someone had told me this yesterday evening, I wouldn’t have believed them — we only did six laps on the dry and I had no real reference, having only raced here once in 2020. But today we made a huge step. I already felt strong in Q1 and I think going through there gave me a slight advantage. In Q2 I found a good lap and now I’m on pole with a new lap record — I’m really happy! The pace was good this morning, so we head into tomorrow’s race with confidence. Huge thanks to the team for the amazing job!"
Aron Canet:"It wasn’t a good day. I crashed right away in Q2 and couldn’t complete a single lap. The guys in the box did a great job getting the bike ready again, but I didn’t make it to the line in time to set a flying lap. I’ll start far back tomorrow, but I’ll try to recover positions. Physically I feel okay, even if my shoulder still hurts a bit."
Roberto Locatelli – Team Manager Fantic Racing Lino Sonego: "A fantastic Saturday for Barry — a well-deserved pole, built with intelligence and determination. He reacted perfectly after a difficult Friday, and the team worked flawlessly. On Aron’s side, it was a tough day — the crash came at the worst possible moment. Now the focus shifts to the race: we’re preparing the bike to help him make a strong comeback. He’s in good condition, and we’re confident tomorrow will be a fight."
Mattia Pasini: “Saturday went pretty well too. This morning I did my first race simulation and I have to say the pace was solid — we're in a good place.
Qualifying was a bit more difficult, to be honest. On the first run I got stuck in traffic and made a few too many mistakes. For the second run, we decided to go out alone and just focus on doing our own lap, and I think we put together a good one. Unfortunately, I made a small mistake in the last sector and lost a couple of tenths — enough to move us up a row on the grid. But overall, I’m really happy with the work we’ve done. We’re making progress, and considering this was our first qualifying of the year, I think we did a solid job. Now it’s time to focus on tomorrow — it’s going to be a long race, especially when it comes to tire management."
