REPORT FROM DAY ONE OF MOTOGP AT BALATON PARK - Motorsportsclicks

A brand-new racing circuit with several changes of directions and left turns, saw MotoGP return to Hungary after 33 years.

It was Marc Marquez who gave the honours in the first free practice session, as the championship leader set the fastest lap being three tenths faster than Pol Espargaro in 2nd place, and was the only rider in the 1:37’s. A reminder that the KTM rider Pol Espargaro is the only one to have lapped the track so far.

A drama for Aprilia marked the session halfway through. Both Raul Fernandez and Jorge Martin’s engines have blown out, causing a red flag to come in. Aprilia has confirmed however that Martin’s engine was the one from the crash at Spielberg last week, and Fernandez’s had a lot of mileage and was already supposed to be changed.

Franco Morbidelli from VR46 went through two crashes in the session, but even with that the Italian managed to set a P7 on the timesheets.

Pedro Acosta closed the top three, and a fast Luca Marini with a new chassis on his Honda put him on the fourth position, with Alex Marquez closing in in fifth.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team’s SpaniDucati Lenovo Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez drives with Ducati Lenovo Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez (C) and BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP team’s Spanish rider Alex Marquez (R) drive during the practice of motorcycle Hungarian Moto GP Grand Prix at the Balaton Park circuit in Balatonfokajar, Hungary, on August 22, 2025. (Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP) (Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile in FP2, it was the little shark Acosta who led the session by 0.006s only ahead of the championship leader Marc Marquez.

The opening stages of the sessions saw some changes in the lead, but it was mainly the Spaniard on the Ducati who took control in the session. Fermin Aldeguer of Gresini is showing incredible pace lately as well, and was stuck right behind Marc for a good part of the practice.

Pedro Acosta took the lead of the session already with 30 minutes to go, but it was not over yet, since the time attack laps were coming only towards the end of the session.

Aldeguer, Marc Marquez and Acosta then had a fight for the lead of the session for some minutes, but with five minutes to go, the Ducati seemed settled in the first position.

In the meantime, Bagnaia, Quartararo and Bezzechi were struggling with their times oand were out of the top 10. At the end of the session, only Quartararo managed to get into the top 10. The struggles continue for Bagnaia, who went from having the best Friday of the year in Austria, to having the worst one just a week apart in Hungary.

Pedro Acosta found the fastest lap of the day at the last shot and managed to get P1 from Marc Marquez. They are followed by both Gresini riders and Enea Bastianini to close the top 5.