The Balaton Park Circuit hosted MotoGP’s first-ever Hungarian round, where Marc Márquez immediately established himself as the rider to beat during Friday’s opening practice. The Spaniard secured the fastest lap with a 1:39.238, signaling his clear intent to dominate the new track from the outset in the MotoGP Hungary Márquez Practice Domination.
Strong Early Performances by Marini, Acosta, and Márquez
At the beginning of the session, Luca Marini set the initial pace, closely pursued by Pedro Acosta and Márquez. Lap times dropped quickly, briefly interrupted when Fabio Di Giannantonio took first place before Márquez launched an unbeatable lap time. Fermín Aldeguer impressed by taking third place just ahead of Alex Márquez, who rides the second bike for the Gresini team.
Setbacks for Bagnaia and Technical Failures for Martín and Fernández
In contrast to Márquez’s speed, reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia found himself at the back of the field, struggling to match the pace and finishing last. More drama unfolded as Jorge Martín’s Ducati emitted white smoke, causing him to stop with a suspected mechanical issue. Shortly after, Raúl Fernández suffered a similar engine problem, recalling the serious Yamaha engine troubles witnessed in Austria earlier this season.
The resulting oil spill at Turn 5 forced the race direction to red flag the session. Track marshals, supported by MotoGP legend Loris Capirossi, managed the cleanup before the action was allowed to resume.
Yamaha’s Challenges and Rider Recovery Efforts
Following the session restart, Yamaha’s top performer was Jack Miller, who managed only tenth position. Franco Morbidelli experienced two crashes at Turn 15 but remained uninjured. Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi, coming off strong recent results, climbed from a poor start in 17th to finish in a solid sixth place.
Surprise Performances and Márquez’s Reassertion of Dominance
Pol Espargaró, substituting for Maverick Viñales at Tech3 KTM, made a late surge to claim second place on the timesheets. Acosta and Marini continued battling within the top ranks, but Márquez consistently regained control, ending the session comfortably ahead.
Márquez’s Commanding Pace Leaves a Strong Impression
Márquez repeatedly set sector-best times, marking himself as the rider with the best grip on Balaton’s challenging layout. Meanwhile, Bagnaia remained mired in 20th without showing improvement. As Hungary’s debut MotoGP practice session featured multiple incidents and unpredictable moments, Márquez’s pace stands as a clear warning to his rivals. The remainder of the weekend promises intense competition from riders like Martín, Acosta, and Espargaró as they aim to challenge the eight-time world champion.
“Every time he pushed, Márquez lit up the timing screens, consistently going red in sector splits.” —Anonymous
