Hungary – August 2025 – MotoGP made its highly anticipated return to Hungary at the brand-new Balaton Park circuit, and it was Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) who wasted no time stamping his authority. The Championship leader topped Free Practice 1 (FP1) by nearly three tenths of a second, reinforcing why the predominantly left-handed, stop-start layout was expected to suit him perfectly.

Drama for Aprilia, Red Flag Interrupts Session

The opening session wasn’t without incident. Aprilia endured a difficult start as Jorge Martin’s RS-GP blew smoke down the front straight, while Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) suffered a more serious issue at Turn 5. Smoke and oil poured from his bike before a small fire broke out, forcing the session to be red-flagged with just over half an hour left. Marshals swiftly cleared the track, allowing riders to regroup for the restart.

Marquez Sets the Pace

Once the action resumed, it was all about #93 Marc Marquez. The Spaniard became the first rider to dip into the 1’37s, setting his fastest lap in the final minutes of FP1. His commanding pace suggests he’s immediately comfortable at the new venue, a worrying sign for rivals as the weekend progresses.

Surprises in the Top Five

There was a standout performance from Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who took second with a late flyer. Familiar with Balaton Park from previous testing, the KTM substitute made an instant impact. Rising star Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) impressed again, finishing third ahead of Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) – testing a new chassis – in fourth. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) rounded out the top five.

Midfield Battles and Crashes

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was the top Aprilia in sixth, just ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who suffered two crashes while adapting to Balaton Park. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) continued his strong run in eighth, with Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) ninth. Jorge Martin, after switching to his second bike, salvaged tenth.

Further back, Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) had a late crash at Turn 12 but still managed P13, while several riders struggled to fully unlock pace at the brand-new circuit.

Strong Start for Marquez in Hungary

With the first-ever MotoGP session at Balaton Park complete, Marc Marquez’s blistering speed has set the tone. Rivals will need to dig deep to match the #93 on a circuit tailor-made for his style, as the Hungarian GP weekend promises more drama and unpredictability.