The new Balaton Park circuit once again proved to be a perfect stage for Marc Marquez. Returning to the venue where he dominated a year ago, the Ducati rider delivered a masterclass on Saturday, converting pole position into a commanding sprint victory and continuing his remarkable comeback after the injuries that disrupted his season just a few weeks ago.
Marquez wasted no time asserting control. As the lights went out, he launched perfectly from the front of the grid and immediately secured the lead into the opening corners. Pedro Acosta stayed close during the early laps and briefly looked capable of mounting a challenge, but the reigning champion remained calm under pressure, refusing to give his fellow Spaniard any real opportunity to attack.
The decisive phase of the race came in the middle stint. Once his tyres reached their optimum operating window, Marquez began to increase the pace lap after lap. Acosta pushed hard in response, but the gap gradually grew as the Ducati rider demonstrated the consistency that had made him the benchmark throughout the weekend. Having already topped practice and secured pole despite a qualifying crash, Marquez looked completely in control.
Behind the leading duo, the fight for the final podium position provided much of the entertainment. Marco Bezzecchi spent much of the sprint defending from a group of charging riders, while Raul Fernandez and Fermin Aldeguer remained within striking distance. In the closing laps, Aldeguer’s pace proved decisive as the young Spaniard climbed onto the podium behind the two leaders.
Further down the order, several riders struggled to adapt to the unique characteristics of Balaton Park. Jorge Martin, still searching for confidence after an inconsistent run of results, could not challenge the front runners, while Fabio Di Giannantonio salvaged valuable points despite lacking the pace to fight for victory. The Hungarian circuit once again rewarded precision and rhythm more than outright aggression.
As the checkered flag fell, Marquez crossed the line unchallenged to claim another sprint success and send a clear message ahead of Sunday. After months filled with injuries, surgeries and setbacks, the Spaniard suddenly looks capable of fighting at the very front once again. With pole position, sprint victory and excellent race pace already secured, he heads into the main event as the rider everyone else must beat.
MiniBikers – MotoGP
2026 Hungarian GP
Sprint Race
Deja un comentario