MotoGP News: Marquez again schools all MotoGP riders in Hungary

Marc Marquez (pictured) powered to an impressive 14th consecutive victory and his seventh weekend double, dominating the 2025 Hungarian MotoGP at Balaton Park.

Behind him, Pedro Acosta on a KTM and Marco Bezzecchi on an Aprilia delivered a podium showcasing three different manufacturers, adding flair to the race.

Starting from pole, Marquez seized the holeshot into Turn 1 but overshot, allowing Bezzecchi to take the lead. The title contender then made a bold, if reckless, lunge at the Aprilia at the next apex, causing contact that handed second place to Franco Morbidelli. Yet, this setback was short-lived for Marquez.

By lap 5, the #93 reclaimed second from Morbidelli and began closing in on Bezzecchi. He struck for the lead at Turn 1 on lap 8, but Bezzecchi coolly countered on the exit and fended him off again at Turn 5. Bezzecchi’s resistance finally broke when Marquez slipped his GP25 under the RS-GP at Turn 1, securing the lead with authority.

Just behind, a KTM was gaining momentum. Acosta, Marquez’s closest challenger before a disastrous qualifying and Sprint, had overtaken Morbidelli and was rapidly narrowing the gap to Bezzecchi. With 11 laps to go, the Spaniard edged past Bezzecchi at Turn 1. By then, Marquez held a commanding 2.7-second lead, while Bezzecchi maintained the same margin over Morbidelli.

Reigning champion Jorge Martin staged a stunning recovery from 16th to fourth on the factory Aprilia, while Honda’s Luca Marini executed a late pass on Morbidelli. The VR46 rider held his position after cutting a corner but was later penalized with a one-position drop. Brad Binder and Tech3 substitute Pol Espargaro rounded out a strong KTM presence with three bikes in the top eight.

Francesco Bagnaia seized an early opportunity at Balaton Park, climbing from 15th to 7th on the opening lap, but a long lap penalty for shortcutting a chicane set him back. A front-end scare on the final lap allowed Espargaro to reclaim the position, leaving Bagnaia ninth. Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo completed the top ten after serving his own long lap penalty for sparking Saturday’s Turn 1 Sprint collision.

All riders opted for the medium front tire, though rear tire choices divided evenly. Marquez switched from the soft rear used in the Sprint to a medium, joined by Fermin Aldeguer, the factory Hondas, all four Yamahas, Aprilia duo Martin and Raul Fernandez, and struggling teammate Bagnaia. Front row starters Bezzecchi and Fabio di Giannantonio, along with KTM’s Acosta, stuck with the soft. However, di Giannantonio faced pre-race drama, pitting for his spare bike due to technical issues and starting from the pit lane after a troubled warm-up lap.

Enea Bastianini, fourth on the grid, carried two long lap penalties for taking out Johann Zarco on the Sprint’s opening lap but crashed again at the start, deferring the penalty to Catalunya. Zarco also endured a double DNF, exiting the grand prix late with a self-inflicted crash. Alex Marquez and Jack Miller each received three-place grid penalties for slow riding on Friday, dropping to 14th and 17th. Both fell early, rejoining at the rear, with Miller—rumored to have re-signed with Pramac Yamaha for 2026—crashing again later.

Red Bull Ring runner-up Fermin Aldeguer was left pondering a missed chance after crashing from fifth but still posted some of the race’s fastest laps. MotoGP marked its debut at Balaton Park, reviving Hungary’s motorcycle Grand Prix after a 33-year hiatus since 1992. KTM test rider Pol Espargaro, stepping in for injured Maverick Vinales at Tech3, was the only rider with prior track experience from a June private test alongside Yamaha, Ducati, Honda, and Aprilia test riders. HRC test rider Aleix Espargaro, slated to replace injured rookie Somkiat Chantra at LCR, was sidelined Thursday due to a back injury from a recent bicycle accident.

Next up, the Catalan Grand Prix was set to thrill fans in Barcelona from September 5-7.

2025 Hungarian MotoGP, Balaton Park – Race Results