Moto2, Canet and Fantic set record in Portimão tests

The two days of private Moto2 tests at the Portimão track ended in the sign of Aron Canet and the Fantic Racing team. On the very track where Canet scored his first career victory in the intermediate class last year, the 2024 World Vice-Champion put everyone in line with a 1'41"191 reference set on the final day.

A time almost four tenths faster than the overall record of the Portuguese track set by Manuel Gonzalez last year in qualifying leaves no doubt about the  ambitions of the Fantic team's rider, who's considered one of the big favorites this season. But there are many riders intent on getting in Canet's way, starting with Gonzalez.

After finishing at the top on a Wednesday affected by low temperatures and wet asphalt, the new IntactGP team rider ended the test in third place, with a delay of 96 thousandths from Canet and six thousandths from Britain's Jake Dixon, who appeared immediately at ease on the Marc VDS team's Boscoscoscuro. Italtrans rider Diogo Moreira - who confirmed the progress he demonstrated during his rookie year by reaching a fourth position, just under four tenths from the top of the time rankings - won't be underestimated either.

Barry Baltus - who reached a fifth time with the second Fantic team's Kalex - also had a good start, preceding Zonta van den Goorbergh, Filip Salac, and Deniz Oncu. There was also place in the top ten for Albert Arenas and Alonso Lopez, respectively 789 and 868 thousandths away from Canet's reference.

Instead, finishing just outside the top ten was Tony Arbolino, in his first day riding the Pramac Yamaha team's Boscoscuro. A little further behind the rider from Garbagnate Milanese - 11th with a delay of nine tenths from the first position - was Celestino Vietti, 14th on the SpeedUp team's twin bike. The best of the rookies, on the other hand, was Adrian Huertas, who came in 16th with the Kalex of the Italtrans team, preceding Collin Veijer by less than a tenth. Further back was Moto3 Champion David Alonso, definitely still not at his best after dislocatign his right shoulder in late January while training.

The Moto2 riders will be back in action, along with their Moto3 colleagues, at the Jerez track, to tackle the final test days. from February 18th to 20th before flying to Thailand for the first race of the year.

Times from first test day in Portimão

Times from second test day in Portimão