Bedon opens up: the secrets behind Fantic’s success, Canet’s farewell, the future with Arbolino, and the global market

Saturday, 03 January 2026 at 17:00

Stefano Bedon festeggia i successi Fantic Racing

Today Stefano Bedon is much more than the Fantic Racing Moto2 Project Manager; he is the symbolic figure of Italy in Moto2. In just three years he has led the Venetian company to success and has launched riders who were previously overlooked. On every occasion, Bedon shows a level of open-mindedness that is rare in the paddock.

After starting his career as head of communications, he rose to prominence as a team manager, proving he has solid technical, managerial, and strategic skills. One of the key moments of his career was with the Snipers Team in Moto3, where he managed even difficult riders, such as Romano Fenati, with mastery. He then embarked on the Fantic adventure. The 2025 season was an unforgettable year for his team, with Barry Baltus finishing third overall, Aron Canet fourth, and triumph in the team standings. The season just gone is already a memory; next year Fantic will field an unprecedented lineup with Baltus and Arbolino.

Stefano Bedon opens his mind and heart exclusively to Corsedimoto.

"The 2025 World Championship wrapped up on the Dorna awards stage. What a satisfaction to win the team championship with two riders in the top five! We did a great job. And to think we were only in our third year while the other teams have been in the paddock for a very long time. Fantic has already become a global benchmark and I am very proud of that. On a personal level, I was sorry that Manuel Gonzales lost the championship at the very end, after everything he did this season. As for us, Barry Baltus did extremely well, it’s just a pity that in the last races Aron Canet slipped from second to fourth."

Canet didn’t shine after signing with Marc VDS. Coincidence?

"At first glance you might think it was a psychological crisis, but in my opinion that wasn’t it. Aron never felt particularly comfortable with the 2025 chassis: he was struggling. We then went back to the 2024 one, with which he felt better, but in the meantime the other riders had made significant progress. So I interpret his performance as a lack of feeling with the bike, because in terms of talent there’s nothing to say—he’s got class: he’s a tremendous rider."

How did you take his departure?

"We decided to bet on Aron Canet when he was still under the radar, and this year everyone wanted him. I was very pleased to be able to enhance his value, to relaunch him. We couldn’t offer him a long-term project, with a three-year contract plus an option like he eventually got. He rightly thought about his future, even after Grand Prix racing, with a possible move to Superbike. And he made a rational choice because he realizes that getting to MotoGP will be difficult for a number of reasons. I care about him a lot and still do: he’s a really good guy. We had built a wonderful relationship in the box, there was a very family-like atmosphere. We truly had a great time with him."

Is Barry Baltus different?

"Yes, he’s Belgian and in terms of personality he’s the classic Nordic rider—more reserved—but on track he’s incredibly strong. I’m sure he can do very well next year with us and then he’ll probably move up to MotoGP. Baltus is young and has everything it takes to reach the top class: exceptional talent, the right physique for MotoGP, and an excellent passport. For us it was a great choice, a winning bet."

How much does the passport matter?

"Dorna wants an increasingly international MotoGP, and being Belgian certainly helps. Organizers will surely be pleased to have one more flag on the grid. In Fantic’s future I don’t see Spanish riders: there are too many; we need to look to other countries, other markets, perhaps even Asian ones, which definitely deserve close attention."

Why did you decide to bet on Tony Arbolino?

"I strongly wanted Tony Arbolino, whom I already worked with in Moto3, because I’m absolutely convinced he can be competitive. In recent years he made some choices that, in my view, were not the right ones—and I told him so. With us he’ll have the technical staff that Aron Canet had, and his bike will be identical to Baltus’s. We’ve never had—and won’t have in the future—a number one and a number two rider. There won’t be any favoritism: may the best man win. Tony Arbolino already knows us and that’s definitely an advantage. Let’s remember that in the past in Moto2 he achieved excellent results: wins, podiums, he fought for the world title. Acosta considers him the toughest rival he had in Moto2. I believe he’ll be fast again with us. Clearly, the level in 2026 will be particularly high, with Aspar and Intact certainly aiming for success."

There’s a lot of Stefano Bedon behind Fantic’s results...

"I’d like to talk about the whole team. Roberto Locatelli used to be the coach and today he’s a great team manager. We have excellent mechanics, top-level technicians... We’ve done thoughtful work with each person, and we’ve clearly weighed our rider choices as best as possible. In the past I learned a lot from Carlo Ubbiali: he made me understand the importance of choices, the value of human aspects that must always be taken into account. Riders must indeed have great talent, but what truly makes the difference is their inner drive."

How do you see Toprak Razgatlioglu’s arrival in MotoGP?

"I'm pleased and very curious about it. I think it's important for all of us to engage with the Superbike world, also to measure ourselves and have a benchmark. I believe the two paddocks are different but not as far apart as one might think. I'm very open to change. I also greatly welcome the switch in Moto3 to Yamaha 700cc twin-cylinders derived from the R7. This way, the entry class gets closer to Moto2 and can truly prepare the youngsters for the step up in category."

Moto2 doesn't attract much interest in Italy. How do you explain that?

"Right now we have Sinner, and everyone is interested in tennis. People talk about him but also about Musetti, Berrettini... MotoGP still holds up. The problem with Moto2 is that there's no Italian at the top. When Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi were winning in 125cc and 250cc, people were interested in those classes. We're missing an Italian hero, a rider capable of capturing attention. Let's hope it can be Tony Arbolino in 2026, that he can win with Fantic Racing."

How do you see the future of the World Championship?

"I believe it's important to work a lot on communication without looking too much at what happens in Formula 1 because the targets are different. A motorcycle is a luxury good that everyone can have in their garage, even factory workers. A sports car, on the other hand, is for the few. All things considered, Dorna has done a good job over these thirty years and hasn't made any major mistakes. I can't wait to find out what decisions will be made for the medium to long term."