Hot headlines: Balaton claims new challenge. Full reset? It’s compelling as MotoGP heads to Hungary and goes counter-clockwise.
As a record breaker a week ago Mugello, you were great. We’re sure Marco Bezecchi (Aprilia Racing) will be happy with the Italian after winning his home Grand Prix for the first time, meaning he boasts a 17-point championship lead over team-mate Jorge Martin at our next destination, Balaton Park.
Dreamland: Aprilia March On.
Aprilia will be hoping the conveyor belt of success keeps moving as we turn a short trip north-west to the Hungarian Grand Prix. A front-row lock, Sprint 1-2, and Grand Prix 1-2 marked another glorious weekend in Italy, as Bezcicci and Martin hunt for healthy points in Hungary – and renew their former title battle. Last year the pair finished P3 and P4 at Balaton, and with two more springs in 2026, the factory RS-GPs will be hard to beat. Especially since Martin was on his way back then.
And so do the Trackhouse MotoGP riders. If it wasn’t lap 1, turn 1, Raul Fernandez would probably be celebrating a double podium at Mugello after his sprint win. Ai Ogura also came close to stopping in the box, but his late rally was not enough to beat countryman Francesco Bagna for P3 – although he did give him a good shot in the final corner. Will all four Aprilias be offered again this weekend?
Don’t count Ducati
The return of Marc Marquez was a big boost for the Ducati Lenovo team, and judging by the smile and words of the reigning world champion, his return after surgery was positive. Now, the weekend doesn’t demand too much in the circuit, and one that he dominated last season comes. Also his specialist subject is counter-clockwise. Can we see #93 at full tilt? If not, he says that the form he submitted last year should not be counted.
Peko’s thoughts were hopeful as he entered the final sector, when he heard, and then saw Ogura staring at Mugello. He and Ducati – and many fans around the world – have seen the #63 take pride of place at home, hoping that it’s the Peco we’ll see regularly as he builds to form. The Italian finished P9 in Balaton last year and will be looking for more this time around.
It was good to see the double MotoGP champion smiling again at his home Grand Prix, and another smile was Italian Fabio Di Giantantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). The Sprint podium, set in P5, means the #49 stays comfortably in P3 overall – but ground is lost to the fastest Aprilias. Can Diggia bite this weekend? He was on the Sprint podium last year before seeing an edition start from the pitlane on Sunday. Team-mate Franco Morbidelli will also be looking for more after a low Italian GP on the sprint podium last year, while Fermin Aldeguer aims to return to a podium finish at a circuit that doesn’t offer much interest for his still-recovering second-place finish in the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP. Aldeguer has a new team-mate this weekend as WorldSBK star Iker Lecuona steps in as Alex Marquez Balaton’s replacement.
Acosta plans to go one better
Example of leaving it all out there. Pedro Acosta. The #37 took every last ounce of performance the RC16 had at Mugello, and P6 was the reward after a tussle with Marc Marquez – and the rest. That’s not good enough for the Hungarian’s P2 finish last year, he – if last year is anything to go by – will have a bit of work on his hands to be in the mix for victory.
After P11 in Italy, teammate Brad Binder pointed to Balaton Park as a circuit suited to the Mugello RC16, while Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Innea Bastianini spoiled two crashes that cost him two top 10s in Italy. Could the South African and Italian, as well as Maverick Vinales, now have another weekend under his belt in the recovering #12, could he challenge Acosta in Hungary for a sharp finish?
MOREIRA with momentum
It wasn’t a picture-perfect weekend for rookie Diogo Morera (see what we did there?), but it was certainly the best we’ve seen from the Brazilian so far. For the first time in Q2, best qualifying result, passing MM93, Sunday’s top 10 and top HRC honours. Strong growth before Hungary.Joan Mir and Luca Marini wanted more than Mugello’s results, and it should be – especially for the latter, the Balaton P5 was the equally best result of his 2025 campaign. You don’t want to get hit by anyone, let alone a beginner on a bike. Meanwhile, for the second weekend in a row, three-time MotoGP winner Cal Crutchlow donned his Castrol Honda LCR skins as Britain continued to stand up for his side Johan Zarco.
Operation Bounce Back
The Mugello layouts and long, long straights will be a particularly tough challenge for the new Yamaha, with factory work moving forward. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) bagged Yamaha’s top honors on the spot after being demoted in the final lap of the race against teammate Torak Razgatliuglu, earning Miller the sole point for the Iwata marque. But Alex Rins’ Friday automatic Q2 entry display was positive, but all four, including Rins’ Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP stablemate Fabio Quattararo, need those extra few horses in Hungary, not too worried. A completely new set-up, in almost every way, could paint a different picture for them this weekend.
From the hills of Tuscany to the views of Lake Balaton, MotoGP is right back in action this weekend for the most exciting sport on earth. Be sure to tune in to find the Hungarian GP!
Post MotoGP: Hungarian Grand Prix preview It appeared at first Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle riding, racing and technology news.
 would happily agree with that too after the Italian won his home Grand Prix for the first time, which means he lands at our next destination, Balaton Park, boasting a 17-point championship lead over teammate Jorge Martin. DREAMLAND: APRILIA MARCH ON A short trip north west sees us roll into the Grand Prix of Hungary, where Aprilia will be hoping the conveyor belt of success continues to be in motion. A front row lockout, Sprint 1-2, and Grand Prix 1-2 signalled another glorious weekend on track in Italy, as Bezzecchi and Martin go hunting more healthy amounts of points in Hungary - and renew their early title battle. Last year the pair finished P3 and P4 at Balaton, and with an extra){kind=link}