Sam Lowes led FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. Riding his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R on spec Pirelli tires, the Brit covered the 2.56-mile (4.07 km) track in 1:39.528 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was second-best with a 1:39.974 on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR.
Andrea Iannone was third with a 1:40.142 on his Team Pata Go Eleven Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucci was 12th with a lap time of 1:40.699 on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff was 14th with a time of 1:40.827 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Friday report: Sam Lowes beats Razgatlioglu on Day 1 at Balaton Park as Bulega finishes eighth. There seem to be surprises in store in Hungary after a Friday that left plenty of questions unanswered…
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was the fastest rider on Friday at Balaton Park as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s first day at the new circuit concluded. The British star was one of only two riders to lap in the 1’39s bracket as he beat Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) by more than two tenths in the combined classification on the opening day of the Hungarian Round.
Sam Lowes on top, Bulega eighth: Ducati order flipped on Friday
Sam Lowes led the field on Friday after putting in a 1’39.528s late in FP2 as he gapped Razgatlioglu by more than two tenths on the combined times. Two Independent Ducati riders were in the top three as Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) secured P3 with a 1’40.142s, although ‘The Maniac’ couldn’t break into the 1’39s barrier like Sam Lowes and Razgatlioglu. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was the lead factory Ducati rider as he finished sixth overall, while teammate Nicolo Bulega was eighth overall. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) continued his strong form as he finished in the top ten in FP2, and overall. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) led teammate Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) while Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Action) was the last Ducati rider as he finished in 21st place.
Razgatlioglu In P2: fastest in FP1, second in FP2
Razgatlioglu was fastest in FP1 and backed that up with second in FP2, giving him the same position overall. His best time of the day was set in FP1 with a 1’39.743s to claim P2, with his FP2 featuring several run-offs for ‘El Turco’. Teammate Michael van der Mark was down in 18th place with a 1’41.107s, finding six tenths between FP1 and FP2, but lapping more than 1.5 seconds down on his teammate.
Lecuona fourth despite a crash: a strong day for the #7
Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) secured a top-four position in the combined classification for Honda despite a crash at Turn 10, setting a 1’40.565s. The #7 improved his time in the afternoon, as he secured fourth overall. Teammate Xavi Vierge was further down the order in 17th place, 1.4 seconds off the pace. Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) had a crash at Turn 9 in FP2 as he finished 19th overall, while his teammate, Zaqhwan Zaidi, was last.
Alex Lowes in the Top ten: seventh for the #22, Bassani 15th
As has been the case often throughout 2025, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was the lead Bimota rider on Friday at Balaton Park. The #22 finished in fourth place in FP2 and xth overall with a 1’40.563s, while teammate Axel Bassani was down the field and outside the top ten as ‘El Bocia’ was classified in 15th place in the combined times.
Gardner leads Yamaha charge: P5 for the Australian; Locatelli, Rea outside the top ten
Fresh from inking a new two-year deal with Yamaha, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) finished as the fastest rider in blue as he took fifth overall with a 1’40.484s. He was the only Yamaha rider in the top ten, with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) claiming 11th place and Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 13th. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was 16th while Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) had the edge over teammate Michael Rinaldi (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), with the pair 20th and 22nd respectively.
A strong weekend coming for Gerloff? P9 in FP1, 14th overall…
Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) had a strong Donington round and that’s continued in Hungary. He finished in the top ten in FP1 as he claimed ninth place, although he couldn’t replicate that in FP2 as he finished 14th overall. His best time came from FP1 with a 1’40.814s.
The top six from Balaton Park’s Friday action, full results here:
1. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’39.528s
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.215s
3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) +0.614s
4. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) +0.840s
5. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.956s
6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.023s
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