Defending MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez delivered another masterclass on Hungarian soil, returning to winning ways with a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix Sprint Race and preserving his perfect winning record at Balaton Park.
The Ducati Lenovo Team star converted pole position into a flawless victory, controlling the race from the opening corner to secure his 18th career Sprint win and move level with Jorge Martin on the all-time Sprint victories list.
Marquez enjoyed the perfect launch when the lights went out, claiming the holeshot and immediately establishing himself at the front of the field. While rivals battled behind him, the Spaniard steadily increased his advantage and quickly transformed the race into a one-man show.
By the midway point of the Sprint, Marquez had already built a comfortable two-second gap over his nearest challenger, demonstrating the pace and confidence that made him virtually untouchable throughout Saturday’s contest.
Behind the dominant Ducati rider, Pedro Acosta produced another impressive performance for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. The young Spaniard remained Marquez’s closest rival throughout the race and successfully secured second place, collecting nine valuable championship points in the process.
The battle for the final podium position proved to be one of the highlights of the Sprint as championship leader Marco Bezzecchi showcased his determination and racecraft.
Starting sixth on the grid, the Aprilia Racing rider made an excellent getaway and surged into third position on the opening lap. From there, Bezzecchi faced relentless pressure from several riders but successfully defended his position to secure his second Sprint podium of the season.
The result further strengthens Bezzecchi’s position at the top of the championship standings, extending his advantage to 20 points heading into Sunday’s Grand Prix.
One of the race’s most intriguing stories came from rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer, who looked capable of challenging for a podium finish during the early stages. The Spaniard repeatedly searched for a way past Bezzecchi but was unable to find a clean opportunity.
His challenge suffered a setback on Lap 3 when he experienced a major front-end scare at Turn 9, forcing him to regroup and dropping behind Raul Fernandez. Despite recovering well, Aldeguer eventually settled for fifth place—still his best Sprint result of the season.
Fernandez, meanwhile, delivered one of his strongest performances of the campaign. The SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team rider finished fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium finish after staying within striking distance of Bezzecchi until the final laps.
Further down the order, Jorge Martin endured a frustrating Sprint. The 2024 MotoGP World Champion made multiple attempts to pass Diogo Moreira, including an off-track excursion at Turn 9 on Lap 2 after braking too late. Although he eventually completed the move later in the race, Martin could only recover to sixth place.
Moreira crossed the line in seventh, while Enea Bastianini produced an impressive charge from 14th on the grid to finish eighth for Red Bull KTM Tech3.
The final championship point went to Francesco Bagnaia, who narrowly held off Fabio Di Giannantonio in a fierce battle for ninth place. It marked another difficult Sprint for the two-time MotoGP World Champion as he continues searching for consistency in 2026.
Elsewhere, Ai Ogura finished 11th, while former WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu claimed top Yamaha honours in 13th position aboard the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP machine.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
