Marco Bezzecchi
Gavin Emmett has spoken to Ducati team members about Marc Marquez’s prospects at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Marquez returned from injury at Mugello after missing the end of the Le Mans weekend and the entire Catalan Grand Prix. He finished fifth in the Sprint and seventh in the main race.
The Spaniard was dominant on the sport’s first visit to Balaton Park last year, taking pole position by three-tenths and winning the two races by a combined margin of 6.4 seconds.
Who’s going to win the Hungarian Grand Prix?
Ducati staff think Marc Marquez can win the Hungarian Grand Prix
Marquez hasn’t scored a podium on a Sunday this year and last stood on the top step at Misano last September, a couple of races before he sealed the 2025 title.
That drought is mostly down to injury, but the ‘car park’ Balaton layout could suit him, especially compared to the ‘fast, flowing’ and demanding Mugello.
That’s why Ducati insiders are optimistic that Marquez can fight for victory and keep his fading title hopes just about alive.
“We were speaking to people in the paddock, in the Ducati camp… We were told, people at Ducati fancy Marc to have a go at Balaton Park,” Emmett said during TNT Sports’ Italian GP coverage.
What are your HONEST thoughts on Balaton Park?
The track has come in for a lot of criticism…
“Completely different circuit to this. This is fast, flowing, open, wide, beautiful scenery. Balaton Park is like a car park on the edge of an industrial estate.”
Emmett’s colleague, Neil Hodgson, would be surprised if Marquez is fit enough to fight for a win already.
“You still can’t imagine Marc being fit enough by next week,” he said. “Seven days from now, in a race. It’s going to take him a week to recover from this!”
Marquez still needs to rebuild muscle and regain physical power after undergoing two surgeries on his shoulder injury.
As he revealed after Sunday’s race, Marquez considered waiting until Hungary to make his comeback but characteristically rushed back in Italy and bagged a solid haul of points.
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