After having mentioned Barry Baltus' trying 2024 season in the first part of our interview with the person concerned in Cartagena, it is time to take an interest in the new challenge that the rider is preparing to take on in Moto2, in 2025. In this At the end of the campaign, the Belgian confirmed that he will drive for the Fantic Racing team, alongside the 2024 world vice-champion, Aron Canet.
While it is never easy for a driver to perform well from the start with a new team, the task may prove to be even less obvious when you measure yourself against the one who has won the most races in the championship. the previous year.
Missing out on the title, due to an insufficient start to the season, Aron Canet approaches 2025 with the desire to do battle. However, this does not worry his future teammate, Barry Baltus. The latter finds the challenge of comparing himself to a top driver rather enjoyable. As he explains to us in the second part of our interview, focused on the future of No. 7 in Moto2.
Have you already gotten to know Aron Canet?
It was the first time I really met him. Before, we saw each other and said hello but no more. He's a super simple guy, super nice, always making jokes. He's a good guy, and I hope we'll build a great team together. As they already told me, with Canet, they came third in the constructors' championship, because his teammate didn't really help to score points. Their ambition is also to win the constructors' championship. Fantic is not just a team, it's a brand too. That's what's good. Unlike the other teams, there isn't just one name. Here, behind, there is also a factory, a brand, so it’s nice.
Do you fear the comparison with the vice-world champion?
No, not really, it will turn me on. I'm not going to say that I've never done anything, but compared to Aron Canet, I have a small track record. So I have to give it my all, and move, to live up to the bike and the team. We saw that the team was capable of winning, so we have to work hard and stay calm. We will build ourselves race after race, and if we do things well, we should be fine.
Since last January, you have been training regularly with Johann Zarco…
It's great, it's great that Johann is doing this. This is our second year training together. We are two French speakers, and we rub shoulders quite a bit in the paddock. He's a really great person, he has incredible charisma, and it's cool to get away from it all on the bike. It's always better than alone.
What do you ride with during the winter?
I reached an agreement with BMW. It’s a great agreement, I can really say thank you to them for providing me with a motorbike all year round. So it's nice, the first few laps weren't easy, it's already been four weeks since I last got on the bike. Speed always feels weird. You're going 120 on the highway, and then you find yourself at almost 300 km/h. It's a little different, but the first few laps are good. It takes a few laps to get back into the swing of things a bit, and then it comes back, but here it's really fun. Getting back to feeling a little, it's the end of the year, and serious things start again at the start of the year in Jerez with Johann.
Barry Baltus and Johann Zarco on track in Cartagena
How will you complete your preparation before the first Grand Prix in Thailand?
I do a lot of physics, I ride a motorbike a little, but not a lot. I'm taking a break of two or three weeks, to say that we're cutting completely. Here, with a busy schedule like this, there's no real break. At the beginning of January, we already got back on the bike. So we'll see, but I can't wait.
Thanks Barry! To conclude, what can we wish you for 2025?
Progress, for sure. The team knows how to play up front. Trying to get into the top-10 in each race is a big overall goal, but above all, I want to be able to compare with my teammate, and get as close as possible. Afterwards, why not fight with him. But before that, working with the team and being able to compare myself to my neighbor in the garage, who rides with the same equipment and who has just finished second in the championship. If I get close enough, I should be fine.
Find it first part from our interview with Barry Baltus in Cartagena via this link.
