Ducati Lenovo
The Ducati Lenovo Team completed the perfect weekend at Balaton Park by securing their 100th MotoGP victory courtesy of Marc Márquez, who in turn claimed his 100th Grand Prix win (his 74th in MotoGP). Francesco Bagnaia rounded out the podium in third position.
Márquez got a good launch from pole position but lost the lead on lap two. From lap six onwards, Marc gradually closed the gap to Acosta before overtaking him — after several attempts — on lap fifteen, then pulling away to secure his first Sunday victory of the season. After avoiding the turn-one incident, Bagnaia made his way up to third place during the opening lap and then managed the situation intelligently to secure his third consecutive Grand Prix podium.
As the eighth Grand Prix of the season draws to a close, Marc Márquez is fifth in the championship standings with 108 points. Francesco Bagnaia is seventh, nine points behind his teammate. The Ducati Lenovo Team is second in the teams’ standings (207 points), while Ducati sits second in the constructors’ championship (225 points).
The Ducati Lenovo Team will be back in action on Friday, June 19th, for the opening day of the Grand Prix of Czechia at Brno.
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st
“We did an incredible job. The secret, in my opinion, was managing the effort on Friday: this allowed me to get to Saturday, and especially today, in the best possible shape. Obviously, I gave it everything today and luckily the choice of the medium tyre paid off in the closing stages, otherwise it would have been a lot harder. Now we’ll see how things go at Brno and Assen because, once again, things went better here due to the higher number of left-handers. This win came after a challenging period of surgeries and recovery, but it was worth it. As always, we need to stay positive and continue along this recovery path.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 3rd
“The first goal for today was to get a better start. Luckily, when I released the clutch, the rear tyre spun slightly; otherwise, I would have been caught up in the turn-one incident as well. I managed to overtake Moreira and Marini straight away and then tried to stay with Pedro (Acosta), but I wasn’t able to match their lap times as I continued to struggle with grip. When they started to push harder, I focused on managing my margin over the riders behind. The podium is a good result, especially after the difficult start to the weekend, as it allowed us to score some important points. We need to keep working ahead of the upcoming races on bike stability in the changes of direction as well as on grip.”
Luigi Dall’Igna – Ducati Corse General Manager
“No words can describe what Marc was able to achieve today. I’m emotionally exhausted, as I was expecting a much calmer race, but obviously I’m also extremely happy for him and the team. He’s a true champion. This is Marc’s 100th Grand Prix win as well as the Ducati Lenovo Team’s 100th MotoGP victory; we couldn’t have asked for more. Now it’s time to celebrate this success before turning our attention to Brno.”
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing
The Hungarian GP proved to be harder than expected for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: Fabio Di Giannantonio ended the Sunday’s race in twelfth place after a crash at the start, while Franco Morbidelli crossed the finish line in fourteenth place. Both riders got points and the rider from Rome is still in Top3 in the World Standing.
A good start was not enough for Di Giannantonio, who was involved in a multiple incident at the first corner. Fabio managed to get back on track, finishing the opening lap in eigtheenth position and showing excellent pace that would have allowed him to fight for the podium places. The rider from Rome proved to be remarkably resilient, gaining positions lap after lap and completing Sunday’s race at the Balaton Park Circuit in twelfth place. Di Giannantonio secured valuable points for the World Championship, where he remains in third position with 138 points.
It was a difficult Sunday for Morbidelli, who struggled to find the right feeling with the bike. Starting from the seventh row, Franco found it hard to have the right race pace. The Italian-Brazilian rider crossed the finish line in fourteenth position, earning 2 points and remaining fourteenth in the World Standing with 40 points.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will return to action in two weeks’ time for the Czech Republic GP, which will take place at the Automotodrom Brno from 19th to 21st June.
Fabio Di Giannantonio – 49
“Luckily, I’m ok. I just have some back pain. The important this is that everyone is ok, without fractures, because the incident was very bad. If we look at our race after the crash, I had a very good pace and it was possible to fight for the podium, we could be on third place. We knew that everything we did was good, from the bike to the tyres. So, it’s a pity and I am frustrated for this. In terms of points, we lost something, but we could be able to keep the Top3. Now it’s time to rest a bit and we will come back stronger in Brno.”
Franco Morbidelli – 21
“It was not a great day, in line with the whole weekend here at Balaton. In the end, we managed to score 2 points, but this is not where we belong. We need to keep working together with Ducati to regain good grip on the bike, because we’re struggling to find it and I’m finding it very difficult. We’re working extremely hard to understand how to solve this issue, and we’ll continue analyzing everything to find a solution during these 10 days before Brno. Hopefully, we’ll find it soon and get back to the positions we deserve.”
Pablo Nieto – Team Manager
“It was a tough weekend, but the most important things is seeing that Diggia is always consistent, we’ve been competitive throughout the weekend. This is a very positive aspect. It’s a pity for the race, because he had a strong rhythm and we had the pace to fight for the podium. But these are races and it can happen, unfortunately. We struggled a little more with Franco, but we keep working to give him even more confidence with his bike. We have a week to analyse all the data and being back with improving suggestion for Brno.”
KTM Factory Racing
Balaton Park was the eighth appointment of the 2026 campaign. The flat, anticlockwise 4.1km layout features 17 corners with at least three chicanes and was tricky for viable overtaking opportunities in the premier class. Pedro Acosta, Enea Bastianini, Brad Binder and Maverick Viñales started from P2, P14, P17 and P21 on the grid and under warm Hungarian sunshine.
Acosta sliced into the lead during the opening phases of the race and then tried to breakaway. A gripping three lap battle with world champion Marc Marquez saw the pair exchange positions throughout different lines into five corners. Pedro then tried to pursue his countryman despite decreasing traction and the margin was only 1.3 seconds at the finish line. Acosta added the trophy to his Saturday Sprint medal for the same ranking.
Bastianini blazed to the top eight but contact with Joan Mir meant he had to serve a Long Lap penalty. Enea then refocused but through a moment of misjudgment he took a shortcut through the chicane and had another Long Lap. He arrived back to 9th by diving past a determined Brad Binder on the final corner. The South African worked hard and rode in traffic for the duration of the GP. Brad breached the top ten for the third time this term. Red Bull KTM Tech3 ‘s Maverick Viñales rode to 15th for his second catchment of GP points this season.
Points-wise, Acosta holds 132 in the world championship; good enough for 4th in the series and with a deficit of just 6 to P3 and 24 ahead of 5th. The Grand Prix of Czechia will take MotoGP to Brno in two weeks.
Pedro Acosta, 2nd and 4th in the championship: “We tried everything. It was a really good battle and I hope everyone at home enjoyed it. We tried to take the maximum out of our package. Back-to-back podiums here and I’m quite happy. Now I’m looking forward to chilling at home and then concentrate on Brno.”
Enea Bastianini, 9th and 12th in the championship: “A strange race for me. I was in a good position and fighting good but I arrived into Turn 1 without brakes and ran to the outside. When I came back I saw Joan too late. Then, trying to recover positions, I had to take a shortcut in the chicane and lost a position and one second but it was probably not enough and I had to make another Long Lap. It was very difficult to pass but I managed to get Brad in the last corner as he went a bit wide. 9th place…it’s OK. It was the best position possible today.”
Brad Binder, 10th and 13th in the championship: “Strange race and I expected a lot more from this GP. I was missing pace. I can do one lap OK but the next too deep and I lose time. The average was not there. I was pushing too much to do something mediocre. I need to do something this week to work out how to improve because it is not much fun going for 10th. I’m hoping for a much better weekend at Brno.”
Maverick Viñales, 15th and 23rd in the championship: “I’m trying to understand how to go fast with this bike and I feel I have to go over the limit. I have to adjust braking when I am in a crowd and increase the load and be more aggressive. I think I will be a good physical position soon and the week off will help. Pedro is making a lot of time on brakes so I need to understand how to stop the bike better. It’s important so I will work hard for that.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Generally a positive weekend for us. Pedro taking two podium finishes was very good. I’m sure that people were dreaming of the first Sunday win and we are getting closer and closer all the time, so we just need to be patient and continue working for that goal. We also need to be pleased when we have three riders in the top ten. It’s progress and more will come in the next races.”
Honda HRC Castrol
The only thing hotter than the conditions in Hungary was the action into Turn 1 as the lights went out and a multiple rider crash sent many of the race favourites down. Taking avoiding action, both Honda HRC Castrol riders escaped any damage and were instantly promoted into the mix for the podium.
Luca Marini’s trademark cool primed him to take advantage of the early drama of others, the Italian locking in and chasing down Jack Miller in the opening laps. By mid-race, the Italian was through and set his sights on closing down the sizable gap to Bagnaia in third, able to slowly chip away. Attentions would soon turn to a fast-approaching Ai Ogura who was hot on the heels of Marini in the closing stages of the race. Eventually getting past, Marini managed to equal his best result as a Honda HRC rider in fifth place.
An important result which moves the #10 to just seven points behind Aldeguer and a top ten position in the World Championship. This is Marini’s third fifth place result on the Honda RC213V.
Like his Honda HRC Castrol teammate, Joan Mir was a benefactor of the misfortune of others and found himself well inside the top ten. Chasing down his fellow Honda riders, an incident with Enea Bastianini unsettled the #36 who managed to regroup. Unfortunately, there was more damage than expected and a strange fall would end Mir’s race as he was sitting comfortably in eighth just behind Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira. He was unharmed in the fall.
After two busy back-to-back races in Mugello and Balaton Park, the Honda HRC Castrol team will now have some brief respite before another double-header in Brno and Assen arrive.
Luca Marini 10
Honda HRC Castrol
“This was another dramatic race, always you risk a lot into Turn 1 and fortunately this time I was able to gain something – I hope all the other riders are OK. Overnight we made some setup changes which improved the bike and our race was good, of course we were helped by the situation at the start to gain some positions, but I think we could have made up some ground anyway. I tried everything I could to get back past Ogura at the end, but I couldn’t quite manage it. Still some good points in the championship overall so we must focus on this and come back strong in the next two races.”
Joan Mir 36
Honda HRC Castrol
“What a race! I think my footpeg got damaged when I had the contact with Enea but we need to check the exact cause. I was comfortable behind Diogo managing the front tyre pressure, so it came as a bit of a surprise. It’s a shame because I think today there was the possibility obviously to get a really nice result after all of the drama at the start of the race. I am OK which is the most important. The good point of the weekend is that we were able to confirm a couple of points from the past that we had some doubts about with the setup so we can now enter the second half of the year with a clearer idea about a few things.”
Aprilia Racing
It was a Sunday to forget for Aprilia Racing in the long race at Balaton Park, with both riders out on the first corner.
Starting from the sixth spot on the grid, Marco Bezzecchi was involved in a crash triggered by Jorge Martín. After starting from the eighth spot, the Spanish rider lost control of his bike braking on turn 1, colliding with his teammate and Raúl Fernández of SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team, as well as Fabio Di Giannantonio and Fermín Aldeguer. The episode compromised the race for three Aprilia riders just a few seconds after the start.
Regarding Marco Bezzecchi, medical checks have shown no visible fractures, he only has contusions on his right leg and hand.
Regarding Jorge Martin, medical checks have shown no visible fractures, he only has contusions on his back and his right foot. Subsequent to the accident, Martín was also sanctioned with a double long-lap penalty that he will have to carry out during the upcoming Grand Prix in Brno.
The positive note of the day comes from SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team, with Ai Ogura finishing fourth after a comeback ride.
MASSIMO RIVOLA
“From the best Sunday and weekend in Mugello to the worst Sunday. After the emotions experienced in Mugello, this is a cold shower that we truly could have done without. I’m saddened by what happened – clearly both Marco and Raúl were not at all at fault, and I also apologise to Team Trackhouse and the other riders involved. We know that there is always a dose of risk in racing, but I think knowing how to safely tackle the first turn is of utmost importance. Jorge’s mistake is a difficult one to digest.”
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