Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP returned to Hungary for the first time in over three decades last weekend. But its comeback was met with mixed reviews.
The Hungarian Grand Prix joined the MotoGP calendar in 1990, where it raced at the Hungaroring before being dropped in 1992. In 2025, the nation returned, but this time with the Balaton Park Circuit, which was also used in World Superbikes this year.
2026 Pramac signing Toprak Razgatlioglu won all three WSBK races in July. Ducati tested at the track over the summer break, with Francesco Bagnaia disguising his true feelings about the circuit, as he did not want to get into trouble.
The Italian called the track ‘very interesting’ as he admitted that it did not suit MotoGP bikes. Teammate Marc Marquez took pole position and won his seventh Grand Prix in a row at Balaton Park, but the race was flooded with controversy.
The track’s twisty nature limited overtaking opportunities and heightened the dangers of crashing. Enea Bastianini was almost hit by other riders when he fell into the path of oncoming traffic in the early stages, prompting fans to call for changes to the circuit.
Mat Oxley calls Balaton Park circuit an ‘insult’ to MotoGP
Journalist Mat Oxley was also not kind with his words about the track. Writing in his column for Motor Sport Magazine, he labelled Balaton Park an ‘insult’ to MotoGP.
“Racing is about speed. That is literally the whole point,” he said. MotoGP is supposed to be about watching riders dancing on the edge of the precipice, controlling their motorcycles at speeds that make everyday people gasp in awe.
“It’s about engineers creating machinery that out-performs every motorcycle on the planet, through crazy horsepower, crazy grip and crazy speeds.
“The championship is supposed to be the pinnacle of motorcycle performance, so to me it’s something of an insult to ask MotoGP’s gladiators and their engineers to go to work at a go-kart track. Balaton Park is not worthy of MotoGP bikes and their riders.
“Taking MotoGP bikes and riders to Balaton is like moving the Isle of Man TT to the Tesco car park in Douglas.
“Faster. Forward. Fearless,’ goes MotoGP’s new marketing slogan. Faster? Certainly not at Balaton. Forward? Is this new circuit good for MotoGP? Will it attract more people to the championship? I don’t think so.”
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Mat Oxley salutes Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola for speaking out about Balaton Park
Oxley went on to praise Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola for his comments about the track. He referred to it as: “Mickey Mouse”, meaning, “Too easy, small or unimportant to be taken seriously.”
Aprilia had a strong weekend in Hungary as Marco Bezzecch finished on the podium in third, while Jorge Martin produced an incredible performance to finish fourth.
Marquez, the race winner, was more diplomatic with his answer about Balaton Park. The Spaniard stated: “In the end, the championship needs different kinds of tracks.”
Ultimately, Marquez will not care too much about which tracks are on the calendar given his level of dominance. But after Balaton Park’s MotoGP debut, it is clear that changes need to be considered.
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