HOT HEADLINES: Hungary returns as MotoGP™ takes on Balaton Park.

New venue, new stories, new stars: can anyone halt Marc Marquez on new turf?

Nine rounds remain in 2025 as a new battleground takes centre stage as we return to Hungary for the first time since 1992, taking on Balaton Park for the first time ever. With a backdrop of central Europe’s largest lake, it’s a picturesque setting to host a new challenge. Round 14 is very much game on at Balaton but will it go as the script suggests or does a twist lie ahead?

FINE FORM: the #93 charges ahead as P2 scrap tightens

Having recorded a sixth Grand Prix win in a row for the first time in 11 years, Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) is the clear favourite going in. A predominantly left-handed circuit, MotoGP’s latest venue has the characteristics of all things #93. Having said that, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) once again showcased his pace with Aprilia by making it back-to-back podiums in Spielberg, as well as pole position. Leading the majority of the Austrian GP and taking P3 – Aprilia’s first podium at the venue – the #72 is charging up the order in the standings into P4.

Between the top two from the Red Bull Ring, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). Alex Marquez had to serve a Long Lap Penalty last time out and took P10 at the flag whilst Bagnaia had to settle for P8 after a tough race and on the receiving end of some tough moves. With Marc on 418 points, he has a 142-point lead going into Round 14 and with Bezzecchi consistently closing, a three-way scrap is bubbling away behind the #93.

P5 BATTLE INTENSIFIES: three riders tied on 144 points

With Bezzecchi moving into fourth overall, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and teammate Franco Morbidelli find themselves P5 and P6 respectively. Neither have finished a GP since Assen and thus need a points haul in Hungary to get back into the P4 fight. Both riders are on 144 points, the same as Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) after the #37’s Sprint rostrum and P4 a week ago as his momentum charges the other way. With three podiums across the Brno and Red Bull Ring weekends, Acosta will be there again, along with rival Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The rookie took a career-best P2 last time out and was in contention for victory, something he aims for again at new, neutral territory.

KTM AND YAMAHA: contrasting fortunes fuel the same goals

Whilst Acosta was the lead KTM in Austria, there was also reason to celebrate for Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who took his best Sunday finish of 2025. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took P7 and came through in both the Sprint and Grand Prix a week ago, so expect the South African to feature again. As for Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3), he withdrew from the Austrian GP as he struggled with his shoulder injury and will be sidelined here – replaced by Pol Espargaro. Someone who’s tested here…

Whilst KTM enjoy an upturn in form, Yamaha endured a more challenging time in Styria. Hoping to bounce back and to try and get ahead of fellow countryman Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) in the standings, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) leads the Iwata brand’s fight back. Teammate Alex Rins was the next best last time out, ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and teammate Jack Miller – all four aiming to return to form on brand-new territory.

UNDERDOGS: will Balaton spring a surprise?

Reigning World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) crashed in Austria but stated that he looks forward to taking on Balaton Park on the Aprilia without a previous reference. Fellow Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) made it a sixth Sunday top ten in a row with P9 in Austria, showing his progress in 2025; he’s 30 points off the top ten overall. With his best Grand Prix result of 2025 in sixth, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) led Honda’s charge a week ago, taking a top six and his best result since India 2023. He’ll hope to do the same in Hungary whereas teammate Luca Marini aims to battle for the top ten. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) hopes a new track will reset his form after a tricky run of rounds, and fellow rookie Somkiat Chantra(IDEMITSU Honda LCR) isn’t present due to ongoing recovery from a knee injury and is replaced by Aleix Espargaro.

New turf – although anti-clockwise turf – awaits. That fact, and Marc Marquez’s form, keeps the target squarely on the #93’s back. But Bezzecchi is on a charge and has shown he will throw down at the front. Aldeguer showed the script can never be written ahead of the action. And Alex Marquez hasn’t got a Long Lap this time round… who’s taking the spoils in Balaton? Tune in to find out!

Moto2™: Gonzalez’s lead down to 19 points ahead of Balaton date

19 points is the gap between Moto2 title race leader Manuel Gonzlaez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and second place Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) heading into Round 14 at Balaton Park, following dramatic weekends for both last time out. 

Gonzalez’s bad luck in the Grand Prix saw the #18 suffer a DNF after a stone from teammate Senna Agius’ opening lap crash pierced the radiator. Meanwhile, Canet’s big FP2 crash meant he was riding a bit battered and bruised, which saw the #44 collect six points with a P10 finish. That’s six points clawed back on Gonzalez, but the biggest mover was race winner Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team). 

The Brazilian, after two pointless scores in Germany and Czechia, propelled himself back into title contention with a classy second win of the season. It’s now 35 points splitting the top three, and with Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) only 10 points behind Moreira, we’ve got four riders who are all well in the hunt for the 2025 crown. 

Fifth place overall, Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) will be putting the Austrian GP firmly out of sight. The Briton is 24 points away from Baltus, while Celestino Vietti’s (Sync SpeedRS Team) second P3 of the season brings him closer to his fellow Boscoscuro rider in the championship. 

What Moto2 title race twists lie ahead in Hungary? We’re about to find out. 

Moto3™: can Piqueras maintain momentum in Hungary?

It was a timely and much needed 25-point haul for Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) in Austria having gone seven races without a rostrum, and with Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finishing outside the top three for the first time since Italy, the gap between the top two in Moto3 dropped to 71 points ahead of the Hungarian GP.

That, obviously, is a very healthy margin the #99 boasts coming into Balaton Park, so Piqueras will need to build on the momentum gained and try to chip away at the gap again in Hungary. And it was double delight for FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI at the Red Bull Ring, as Ryusei Yamanaka handed the outfit a 1-2 – that’s the Japanese star’s career-best result. 

Speaking of career-best, David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) is enjoying his most fruitful run in Moto3 after the #64 battled his way to P3 in Austria. That’s his fourth podium on the bounce, his fifth in the last six, and the Spaniard is now tied on points in P3 overall with two stand-out rookies – Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo). 

Quiles finished P4 after losing out in the latter stages last time out to draw level with Carpe, who claimed P11. At the moment, it’s a straight shootout between those two for Rookie of the Year honours, but Muñoz, Quiles, and Carpe will be hunting Piqueras and Rueda first and foremost. 

Who will clinch the first Moto3 victory at Balaton Park? A whole host of names are in the hat, as the chasers aim to cut Rueda’s advantage once more this weekend.