Albert Arenas was quickest during FIM Supersport World Championship Superpole qualifying Friday afternoonn at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. Riding his AS BLU CRU Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.53-mile (4.08 km) road course in 1:42.050, topping the field of 33 riders.

Can Oncu was the best of the rest with a 1:42.255 on his Pata Ten Kate Yamaha YZF-R9. 

Matteo Ferrari was third with a lap time of 1:42.354 on his WRP Racing Ducati Panigale V2. 

Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was 6th with a 1:42.568 on his Eastroc Evan Bros ZXMOTO 820RR.

More from a press release issued by WorldSBK:

Superpole stunner: Arenas profits from Masia’s crash to take pole in front of several riders earning personal bests. Arenas will start from pole for the first time this season, while his title rival languishes back in P25. 

The FIM Supersport World Championship tore onto the tarmac at Balaton Park Circuit for their Motul Hungarian Round. Friday afternoon saw fireworks at the lakeside venue as the paddock returned for the second time to the circuit.  Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) took P1, ahead of Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) in second and third. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) crashed off the track on the fast Turn 8. While he walked away unharmed, the mechanics were unable to repair the bike in time to set an improved time, meaning the Championship leader will start from P25.

SIEZING THE INITIATIVE: Arenas takes pole while his title rival tumbles to P25

Albert Arenas strived to take full advantage of the Riders’ Championship leader’s crash; he hung around the top positions the entire session and hit his mark late in the event as a 1’42.050s time sent him to pole position for the first time this season. Can Oncu looked stronger than the start of his season so far as he led the session early, breaking the standing lap record of 1’42.799 set last season by his rival Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). While he improved his time to 1’42.255s, he will start from P2 for his second front row of the season. The former MotoE rider was taking no prisoners in the session as Matteo Ferrari tussled with Oncu for pole position early on. He will enjoy the first front-row start of his WorldSSP career in Race 1, finishing a tenth behind Oncu. While Masia’s lowside crash left his bike worse for wear, he has a history of strong recovery rides. Here at Balaton Park last year, he made lemonade out of lemons as he started P31 and finished P7 in Race 1.

JESPERSEN JUMPS FORWARD AGAIN: The Balaton Park specialist takes his season’s best Superpole placement

Simon Jespersen (EAB Racing Team) enjoyed another breakout day at Balaton as he improved his previous best Superpole result of the season, from P10 to P4. He hopes to capitalize to take his second-ever WorldSSP podium on Saturday afternoon. Two tenths behind the Dane, Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing) was fast at Balaton again as his 1’42.557s time took him to P5 to follow up on his fourth place qualification here last year. Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) snagged the final spot of the second row, a mere nine thousandths behind Farioli. He hopes to get his ZXMOTO SRK820RR back on the podium this weekend.

Alessandro Zaccone (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) has set a strong base of results in the top ten so far in 2026, but at Balaton Park, he’s aiming higher as he will start from P9.

GARCIA P7: His teammate Mahias slips to P15

Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) carried the GMT94 Yamaha flag on the day as he took a team-high P7 with a lap time of 1’42.601s ahead of teammate Lucas Mahias, who slipped to P15. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) continues to pick up his pace in 2026 after setting a season-high Superpole session placement of P8 on the back of his 1’42.623s time. Federico Caricasulo (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) was similarly showing signs of improvement, as for the second time on ZXMOTO machinery, he earned a top ten spot. The Italian took P9 with a time of 1’42.713s. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) rounded out the top ten with a time four hundredths slower than the Italian. He hopes to emulate his Assen successes in the races to come.

The top six from the WorldSSP Tissot Superpole session, full results here!

1. Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) 1’42.050s

2. Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.205s

3. Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) +0.304s

4. Simon Jespersen (EAB Racing Team) +0.309s

5. Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing Yamaha) +0.507s

6. Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory) +0.518s

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