MotoGP rolls in to a brand new problem – Balaton Park

MotoGP 2025

Spherical 14 – Balaton Park

The primary Hungarian GP was held in 1990 when five-time MotoGP World Champion Mick Doohan took his maiden victory. In 1992, MotoGP returned to the Hungaroring, and this time, it was one other MotoGP Legend who received: Eddie Lawson, the American taking his final victory and the primary win within the class for Cagiva.

In 2025, MotoGP is again in Hungary on the all-new Balaton Park. The monitor hosted its first spherical of WorldSBK in July, with all three races received by 2026 MotoGP rider Toprak Razgatlioglu. Balaton Park is the seventy fifth completely different monitor to carry a premier class Grand Prix, and the thirty second within the trendy period. It’s certainly one of six tracks on the present calendar that run anticlockwise, together with Aragon, Austin, Sachsenring, Phillip Island and Valencia

Set towards the backdrop of central Europe’s largest lake, the very tight circuit supplies the stage for spherical 14 of the season. Within the lead as much as the occasion, it might be mentioned that riders have been damning the circuit with faint reward… With many suspecting that regardless of officers deeming the circuit appropriate for MotoGP, it can show in any other case when the rubber hits the highway…

This 4.115 km monitor, positioned 85 km southwest of Budapest, combines lengthy acceleration zones, heavy braking, and lots of technical sections. Designed to fulfill trendy security requirements, it was just lately modified on the recommendation of Dorna consultant Loris Capirossi to adjust to MotoGP and WorldSBK necessities. These modifications included the redesign of turns 6-7, the creation of a brand new chicane, and a reworked last part to reinforce security.

Piero Taramasso – Michelin

“The Michelin Grand Prix of Hungary is a historic occasion, because it marks the primary time that MotoGP will happen at Balaton Park. It’s a circuit we don’t but know completely, however we carried out simulations and, extra importantly, exams on website just a few weeks in the past. This allowed us to gather invaluable knowledge, although we all know that official riders at all times push a lot more durable and stress the tires extra in race circumstances. The structure will not be extraordinarily quick, nevertheless it contains many acceleration zones, arduous braking areas, and slower sections. This generates lots of thermal stress on the tires, particularly in mid-August when monitor temperatures can attain 55 to 60°C. We’re bringing a whole allocation: three symmetric entrance tyres (Gentle, Medium, Laborious) and three uneven rear tyres with strengthened left shoulders. It is a broad and versatile selection that ought to enable riders and groups to shortly determine the very best mixture from Friday onwards and optimise their settings to handle the race.”

9 rounds stay in 2025
Marquez vs the Relaxation

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Workforce) arrives as the person to beat. Contemporary from a sixth consecutive Grand Prix win, Marc has stamped his authority on the title chase. With 418 factors, he holds a commanding 142-point lead, and Balaton Park’s predominantly left-handed structure performs proper into his strengths.

Marc Márquez

“I’m very pleased, I lastly obtained the win in Austria! It was lacking from my bucket checklist and I’m additionally very pleased to have accomplished it with Ducati. They’ve overtaken me for 3 consecutive years proper on the final nook earlier than the checkered flag. That mentioned, we’ll get again on monitor at Balaton, a monitor the place we’ve got no reference factors apart from the information from the Panigale V4S. Clearly, it will likely be a distinct story; we’re anticipating a barely tougher Friday than typical with many unknowns, this time not simply associated to the climate”.

But the Purple Bull Ring confirmed he’s not invincible, with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) main a lot of the race earlier than finally settling for P3. The Italian has discovered kind on the excellent time, taking back-to-back podiums and propelling himself into fourth within the standings.

Marco Bezzecchi

“Balaton will likely be fascinating. It’s at all times good to tackle a brand new monitor and I’m curious to find it. We’re coming from a sequence of optimistic outcomes and, as at all times, we’ll be making an attempt to work arduous to provide it our all in Hungary too.”

Behind them, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Workforce) have factors to show. Alex was hampered by a Lengthy Lap Penalty in Austria and will solely handle tenth, whereas Bagnaia slipped to eighth after a bruising encounter. Each will likely be hungry for redemption in Hungary.

Pecco Bagnaia

“I’m pleased to get again on monitor right away and put the Austrian GP behind me. After a very good Friday, we’ve got struggled. We’ll proceed analysing the information and get again to work. On the Balaton monitor, we’re all ranging from scratch. As Ducati, we have to benefit from having ridden right here in early August. We have to perceive the true restrict with a motorbike just like the Desmosedici GP, which, in comparison with the Panigale V4S, has way more potential”.

With Bezzecchi now sitting fourth within the championship standings, the battle for fifth general is finely poised. Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Workforce) share the place on 144 factors, however each are determined to return to kind after failing to complete a Grand Prix since Assen. They’re joined on equal factors by Pedro Acosta (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing), whose Dash podium and P4 in Austria continued his mid-season cost. Three podiums in two weekends underline his rising menace, whereas rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) is available in recent from a career-best second place and a real shot at victory. On a brand new, impartial circuit, each kids might spring a shock.

Fabio Di Giannantonio

“The Balaton Park Circuit is a slim and gradual monitor, however if you’re okay, you go effectively in each situation. I wish to take pleasure in and having a weekend by which we are able to work with consistency. I wish to develop and study as we did once we had been quick. I don’t count on nothing particularly, the objective is to attempt to take pleasure in, and we hope to keep away from any shock that would have an effect on the consequence.”

Franco Morbidelli

“It is going to be a weekend filled with unknowns, as a result of it’s a brand new monitor for everybody. Balaton is a very completely different monitor from Spielberg. Many issues will likely be completely different. The essential factor is that we obtained a very good feeling in Austria, the pace was there. The objective is to continue to grow, we arrive to Hungary conscious that we’ve got lots of work to do, however we’re prepared.”

Austria signalled an upturn for KTM. Acosta led their cost, whereas Enea Bastianini (Purple Bull KTM Tech3) secured his greatest Sunday end of the yr and Brad Binder (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) battled via to P7. The one shadow was Maverick Viñales’ ongoing shoulder points, ruling him out as soon as once more — Pol Espargaro steps in as substitute, bringing invaluable monitor information from earlier testing.

Enea Bastianini

“We arrive in Hungary with way more confidence. Austria’s race weekend strengthened what we’ve got accomplished in Brno and this confirms we’re working effectively, and within the good course. Huge credit to the crew and KTM for the efforts made up to now. I hope we will maintain the identical path in Balaton even whether it is tough to foretell the output as it will likely be a brand new monitor for everybody.”

Pol Espargaro

“It’s robust for Maverick to overlook one other race however we noticed in Austria that he wants extra time for restoration and it’s essential to consider MotoGP if you find yourself 100%. I do know this solely too effectively! I repeat once more what I mentioned in Czechia: he’s doing an incredible job for the manufacturing facility, and he deserves to proceed having fun with the bike, as the opposite guys have accomplished. I hope he’s again asap. Proper now we deal with Hungary and it’s not simple to alter the take a look at rider ‘chip’ for the MotoGP rider ‘chip’, with the extent the class has proper now and with the tempo the others have. We’ve had some exams just lately and we are able to see the mission is making some nice progress. I’m pleased to have the ability to assist out the crew and the manufacturing facility once more by racing this weekend and, as at all times, it can convey some worth to our work behind the scenes and on the races. We’ll want to alter our mentality and prepare for this new problem in Balaton Park.”

Yamaha, in the meantime, continues to seek for solutions. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP) endured one other irritating weekend in Austria and will likely be desirous to bounce again on recent asphalt. Teammate Alex Rins, Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), and Jack Miller (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP) additionally struggled, all 4 in want of a reset to claw again momentum.

Fabio Quartararo

“The crew, in fact, labored very arduous to collect all the information and determine what occurred in Austria. I’m fully targeted on this GP. It’s my first time using at Balaton Park. Attempting a brand new circuit is at all times enjoyable as a rider, and we additionally get to fulfill the Hungarian followers. It is going to be fascinating to see if this monitor fits us, and if we are able to make a step this weekend.”

Alex Rins

“Yamaha is making an attempt to grasp why the Austrian GP was so arduous – taking notes and making enhancements for subsequent yr. Understanding why is an important factor. However everybody within the crew and the take a look at crew is giving it their all. The optimistic factor about back-to-back races is that we are able to maintain working, and personally I can even proceed my development in adapting my using model. Balaton Park is a brand new circuit for all of us, and each rider will likely be looking for the correct strains and braking factors, so for certain the primary FP session will likely be essential.”

Jack Miller

“I‘m wanting ahead to racing at Balaton Park. It‘s a brand-new monitor for all of us, and I‘m curious to see what we are able to do there with our bike after a really robust weekend in Austria for Yamaha. I actually wish to take a step ahead in Hungary, and hopefully the recent asphalt will give us extra grip – one thing we actually want. As at all times, we‘ll give every part we‘ve obtained.”

Miguel Oliveira

“I‘m actually wanting ahead to experiencing Balaton Park firsthand. From what I‘ve seen watching the Superbike races, it doesn‘t appear to be a straightforward monitor, with plenty of braking, gradual corners, restarts, and modifications of rhythm. Nonetheless, I hope it may be a significantly better weekend for us than Austria.”

Elsewhere, reigning champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) noticed his Austrian GP finish within the gravel however is optimistic in regards to the new venue, the place a degree enjoying area might play into Aprilia’s palms.

Jorge Martin

“I’m headed to Balaton after a optimistic weekend, the place I began understanding lots of issues in regards to the bike and constructing a little bit of feeling. I have to do not forget that I’ve solely ridden two races with the RS-GP25 and I want time, though it isn’t at all times simple to simply accept being behind after I’m giving 100%. The objective at Balaton will likely be to proceed rising on a monitor that’s new for everybody. Getting kilometres in will likely be particularly essential, in addition to getting more and more nearer to a very good feeling, as a result of we’ve got extremely enormous potential.”

Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Workforce) continues his regular run of kind with a sixth consecutive high ten, whereas Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) returned to the sharp finish with sixth, his greatest consequence since 2023.

Raul Fernandez

“Balaton Park will likely be a brand new monitor for everyone. We don’t have any knowledge, however I’m nonetheless very assured. We ended the previous couple of races inside the highest 10 so, mainly, it’s the goal that, initially, we have to strive our most from Friday onwards and if we handle to do this, it will likely be very good. I’m wanting ahead to this new circuit.”

Joan Mir

“After our weekend in Austria I’m wanting ahead to getting again on monitor and persevering with our momentum. Hungary seems like a very completely different circuit to Austria, a lot tighter and extra technical. It has been some time since we had a brand-new circuit, and I believe it could assist us to be nearer to the entrance once more. I’m to see how MotoGP and our bike performs there, new monitor, distinctive structure – a recipe for an thrilling weekend. It’s at all times pleasant to go to new locations and meet new followers. Let’s placed on an excellent present for all of the Honda supporters there.”

Teammate Luca Marini will purpose to affix the top-ten battle, as will Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Workforce), who hopes the recent begin resets his fortunes.

Luca Marini

“I’ve been checking the WorldSBK races and the information from when the Take a look at Workforce went to Hungary and it seems a really specific type of circuit. For the time being I believe we’re capable of finding a very good degree from fairly early within the weekend, so at a brand new monitor we should always be capable of benefit from that. Inserting ourselves in a greater grid place for the races is without doubt one of the primary focuses of the weekend, together with testing our new items on a distinct type of circuit to Austria. Good to fulfill new followers and expertise a distinct nation.”

Ai Ogura

“It’s going to be a brand new circuit for everyone and I believe there’s lots of modifications in course. When you perceive the circuit, I believe it will likely be fairly OK to handle. So, Friday goes to be a key – actually essential. Now we have been struggling in essential periods, almost since we arrived in Europe, so I’ll attempt to be good on this second and after that, every part ought to be coming simpler. I’ll strive my greatest and we’ll see what occurs.”

With Somkiat Chantra sidelined, Aleix Espargaro makes a one-off return to deputise.