Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP’s return to Hungary threw up a few surprises as Balaton Park hosted the country’s first race for 33 years.
Aprilia had two bikes in the top four, but it was still business as usual for Marc Marquez, who earned his seventh straight Sprint and Grand Prix victory. The MotoGP title looks all but secured.
Pedro Acosta matched his best result on a KTM bike by finishing second, but never looked like challenging for top honours, while Honda also had a solid race.
After crashes for Joan Mir and Johann Zarco, the ever dependable Luca Marini scored his best result for the team.
Mat Oxley is ‘more and more’ impressed by Marini the longer the season drags on. He’s yet to finish a race outside the points.
Honda’s ‘oracle of wisdom’ is doing something Marc Marquez never did and is even learning Japanese in a bid to boost his efforts on track. He’s a top professional.
READ MORE: Luca Marini explains why Suzuka is ‘too dangerous’ for MotoGP to return after his ‘serious’ injury
‘Unbelievable’ Luca Marini earns Valentino Rossi comparison after record Honda result
Honda have reached an agreement with the ‘perfect’ Marini for 2026, and have been impressed by his form this campaign.
Compared to 2025, it has been night and day for the rider whose best result was 12th out of all races last season. It was a miserable year.
It’s common knowledge that Valentino Rossi is his half-brother, but by setting a new record for his best result with Honda, he has reminded everyone of just how talented he is.
Peter Bom has praised the ‘unbelievable’ Marini not just for his exploits on the track, but also for how he handles himself with people.
“He has shown balls without talking about it, and he shows who his half-brother [Rossi] is by being so cunningly smart about which parts to choose and at which moment. The way he can’t even explain things half, you can see him thinking when you ask him,” he said.
“Whenever I question him, because it’s not like I want to show I’m smart, he chooses carefully his words to make sure you don’t misunderstand me.
“‘I want to say this, and I’m going to use this, and this, and [use] words that I’m sure you will get it.’ Unbelievable, you pick up always something when you listen to Luca Marini.”
READ MORE: Honda are now ‘destined’ to sign ‘desperate’ rider Yamaha want to replace Jack Miller
Why there should be a lot more to come from Luca Marini in 2026
Marini has earned two podiums in his time in MotoGP, doing so when he rode for Rossi’s VR46 team in 2023.
He’s yet to earn a first victory, but he has shown that he has the talent and mind to get there. Now he needs Honda to deliver some more power.
All of their riders have complained about a lack of juice from their engine, which is unusual by the Japanese manufacturer’s own standards.
Marini’s plan ‘completely changed’ after a crash forced him to sit out of three MotoGP races this year, in a test session for the Suzuka 8 Hour. It also stripped him of an opportunity to ride at a special event.
Now that he has a few seasons of strong experience with Honda, he should be able to take the fight to his rivals in the midfield and at the front a lot more regularly in 2026.
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