After discussing Barry Baltus' trying 2024 season in the first part of our interview with the person concerned In Cartagena, it is time to look at the new challenge that the rider is preparing to take on in Moto2, in 2025. At the end of this campaign, the Belgian has indeed confirmed that he will ride for the team Fantic Racing, alongside the 2024 world vice-champion, Aron Canet.
While it is never easy for a driver to perform well from the start in a new team, the task can be even less obvious when you measure yourself against the one who won the most races in the championship the previous year.
Having missed out on the title due to an insufficient start to the season, Aron Canet is approaching 2025 with the desire to fight. However, this does not worry his future teammate, Barry Baltus. The latter finds the challenge of comparing himself to a top rider rather enjoyable. As he explains to us in the second part of our interview, focusing on the future of the number 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 nothing more. He's a super simple guy, super cool, 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 them 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's not just a name. Here, behind, there's also a factory, a brand, so it's cool.
Are you afraid of being compared to the vice-world champion?
No, not really, it will excite me. 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 get moving, to be 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're going to build ourselves race after race, and by doing things well, it should be fine.
Since last January, you have been training regularly with Johann Zarco…
It's cool, it's great that Johann is doing this. This is the second year that we've trained together. We're both French speakers, and we rub shoulders quite a bit in the paddock. He's really a great person, he has incredible charisma, and it's cool to have a bit of a fight on the bike. It's always better than going it alone.
What do you ride in the winter?
I found an agreement with BMW. It's a great agreement, I can really thank them for giving me a bike all year round. So it's great, the first few laps weren't easy, it's been four weeks since I last rode a bike. The speed is always weird. You're riding at 120 on the motorway, and then you're at almost 300 km/h. It's a bit different, but the first few laps are good. You need a few laps to get back into it a bit, and then it comes back, but here it's really fun. Getting back into the swing of things is at the end of the year, and the serious stuff starts again at the beginning 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 physical work, I ride a little bit on my motorbike, but not a lot. I take a break of two or three weeks, to say that we're completely cutting out. Here, with a busy schedule like that, there's no real break. At the beginning of January, we're already back on the motorbike. So we'll see, but I can't wait.
Thank you 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 every 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. After that, why not fight with him. But before that, work with the team and be able to compare myself to my garage neighbor, who rides with the same equipment and who just finished second in the championship. If I get close enough, it should be fine.
Find the first part from our interview with Barry Baltus in Cartagena via this link.
