Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has struggled with recurring injuries for a matter of months now, but Michael Laverty believes the reigning world champion may now be back on his way to his very best form in MotoGP.
The Spaniard topped FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, just one week after his high-profile return from injury at Mugello. Despite undergoing surgery during his three-week absence from the MotoGP grid, Marquez secured a respectable P7 in Sunday’s race.
If Jorge Martin was fully fit in 2025, where would he have finished with Aprilia?
Of course, Marquez later detailed how he doesn’t like to ‘settle’ for such results following the conclusion of the race weekend, but that is just a testament to his highly ambitious attitude.
Mugello is renowned for being one of the most physically demanding circuits on the calendar, but the site of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Balaton Park, offers a different challenge. One that Marquez’s current level of fitness may be more suited to.
- READ MORE: MotoGP FP1 results as Marc Marquez sets pace at Hungarian Grand Prix and Toprak Razgatlioglu crashes
Michael Laverty has seen a very ‘positive’ change from Marc Marquez since returning from injury
During TNT Sports’ coverage of FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, former MotoGP rider Michael Laverty was asked for his thoughts on whether Marquez is now the favourite for the Sprint at Balaton Park following his topping of the time sheets in practice.
Marc Marquez back on top in FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix 👀 What can he achieve this weekend?
The pundit is optimistic for the Spaniard’s chances, replying, “Well, after that performance, you have got to say that it’s looking good. I’m loving that he’s looking more like the Marc we haven’t seen since that fateful morning in Indonesia.
“He lined up, started the race, and then the injury [happened]. The woes when he was back earlier this year, it just wasn’t Marc as we’ve come to know him. His comments in Mugello were positive, but the actions we’re seeing today are even more so.”
The incident at Mandalika last year came just one week after Marquez secured his seventh world title in the premier class. The feat was widely celebrated due to the fact that it came after the Ducati ace’s injury hell, which nearly saw Marquez disappear from the sport altogether.
Still, Laverty believes Ducati may have another ace up their sleeve in the form of Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer, who finished FP1 with the fourth fastest time of the session.
- READ MORE: Fermin Aldeguer has already shown Valentino Rossi made a genius decision to sign him for 2027
In a segment on Jorge Martin’s chances this weekend, he said, “Well, Martin was fourth in the main race, and that was a bit of a surprise here last year on the Sunday. I think he’d be okay with that starting position.
“But looking at certain threats, like Aldeguer and Marquez, Ducati are having a bit of a resurgence here. I think Aldeguer is the one who could be a threat around here. This is the type of track where he loves to attack with the front end; he could make things work.”
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
