What an unforgettable Spanish GP for Barry Baltus, who crossed the line in second place to claim his first podium of the Moto2 season. His Fantic Racing Lino Sonego teammate, Aron Canet, secured a solid eighth place.

It was a weekend to remember for Barry Baltus. From the very first session on Friday, the young Belgian showed that he had the pace to be a frontrunner in Jerez, just like he did during pre-season testing. In qualifying, he put in a stunning performance to secure fourth on the grid, missing out on pole by just 0.07 seconds. Barry got off to a solid start and cleverly managed his race pace without pushing too hard in the early laps. With high temperatures and fierce competition, it was anything but easy, but the Fantic Racing Lino Sonego rider proved he had the extra edge. By lap three, he had already moved into podium contention and, by lap seven, overtook Moreira to grab second place – a position he held firmly all the way to the checkered flag. A brilliant ride from the 20-year-old, who celebrated in parc fermé together with his crew, led by crew chief Miguel Gomez. Thanks to the 18 points collected, Barry now moves up to fourth in the championship standings.

For Aron Canet, it was a tougher weekend than expected. A small crash in qualifying, luckily without any consequences, forced him to start from seventh on the grid. In the race, Aron tried to manage his pace but struggled to find the right feeling, preventing him from attacking the group ahead. He still brought home a valuable eighth-place finish. In a long season like this one, it is crucial to consistently score points without taking unnecessary risks, and today the Spaniard collected some important ones for the championship hunt.

An incredible atmosphere surrounded the Spanish GP, with over 100,000 fans packing the stands on Sunday and 224,420 across the weekend. Thanks to the 28 points scored at Jerez, Fantic Racing Lino Sonego keeps the lead in the Teams’ standings. Next stop: the iconic Le Mans circuit in France in two weeks’ time.

Barry Baltus: “I am really happy to get my first podium with Fantic Racing Lino Sonego. We have been working so hard since the start of the season. It is just the first one, but there are still 18 races left – 18 more chances – and we need to push even harder to stay up here. During the race, I focused on managing the pace and the tyres. The last five laps were super stressful because I really wanted that podium. Jerez feels special – it is a track where so many Spanish riders do a lot of laps, it is a home GP for them. Plus, the crowd here is incredible, it is packed everywhere and the atmosphere is amazing. This podium is for my family, my team, and everyone who has always supported me from the beginning. I can’t wait for Le Mans – a GP that feels like a home race for me!”

Aron Canet: “I am not happy with today’s race. I am sorry I couldn’t fight at the front, but I just didn’t have the right feeling. Still, better to take 8 points than risk a crash. Now, the full focus is on the next GP in Le Mans. Thanks to all the fans for the amazing support this weekend.”

Roberto Locatelli, Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Team Manager:“What an amazing race by Barry Baltus today. Once again, he showed his talent – he is fast, competitive, and backed by a great team. We were able to use some valuable data from testing and we have been strong right from the start of the weekend, which was something we were missing a bit before. Now the goal is to keep this momentum going. For Aron Canet, it was still a positive race despite the struggles – the data confirms it. These points will be important for the championship. In Le Mans, we will be even hungrier for another podium.”