Classy Acosta races to 2nd at Hungarian MotoGP™

Balaton Park was the eighth appointment of the 2026 campaign. The flat, anticlockwise 4.1km layout features 17 corners with at least three chicanes and was tricky for viable overtaking opportunities in the premier class. Pedro Acosta, Enea Bastianini, Brad Binder and Maverick Viñales started from P2, P14, P17 and P21 on the grid and under warm Hungarian sunshine.

Acosta sliced into the lead during the opening phases of the race and then tried to breakaway. A gripping three lap battle with world champion Marc Marquez saw the pair exchange positions throughout different lines into five corners. Pedro then tried to pursue his countryman despite decreasing traction and the margin was only 1.3 seconds at the finish line. Acosta added the trophy to his Saturday Sprint medal for the same ranking.

Bastianini blazed to the top eight but contact with Joan Mir meant he had to serve a Long Lap penalty. Enea then refocused but through a moment of misjudgment he took a shortcut through the chicane and had another Long Lap. He arrived back to 9th by diving past a determined Brad Binder on the final corner. The South African worked hard and rode in traffic for the duration of the GP. Brad breached the top ten for the third time this term. Red Bull KTM Tech3 ‘s Maverick Viñales rode to 15th for his second catchment of GP points this season.

Points-wise, Acosta holds 132 in the world championship; good enough for 4th in the series and with a deficit of just 6 to P3 and 24 ahead of 5th. The Grand Prix of Czechia will take MotoGP to Brno in two weeks.

Pedro Acosta, 2nd and 4th in the championship: “We tried everything. It was a really good battle and I hope everyone at home enjoyed it. We tried to take the maximum out of our package. Back-to-back podiums here and I’m quite happy. Now I’m looking forward to chilling at home and then concentrate on Brno.”

Enea Bastianini, 9th and 12th in the championship: “A strange race for me. I was in a good position and fighting good but I arrived into Turn 1 without brakes and ran to the outside. When I came back I saw Joan too late. Then, trying to recover positions, I had to take a shortcut in the chicane and lost a position and one second but it was probably not enough and I had to make another Long Lap. It was very difficult to pass but I managed to get Brad in the last corner as he went a bit wide. 9th place…it’s OK. It was the best position possible today.”

Brad Binder, 10th and 13th in the championship: “Strange race and I expected a lot more from this GP. I was missing pace. I can do one lap OK but the next too deep and I lose time. The average was not there. I was pushing too much to do something mediocre. I need to do something this week to work out how to improve because it is not much fun going for 10th. I’m hoping for a much better weekend at Brno.”

Maverick Viñales, 15th and 23rd in the championship: “I’m trying to understand how to go fast with this bike and I feel I have to go over the limit. I have to adjust braking when I am in a crowd and increase the load and be more aggressive. I think I will be a good physical position soon and the week off will help. Pedro is making a lot of time on brakes so I need to understand how to stop the bike better. It’s important so I will work hard for that.”

Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Generally a positive weekend for us. Pedro taking two podium finishes was very good. I’m sure that people were dreaming of the first Sunday win and we are getting closer and closer all the time, so we just need to be patient and continue working for that goal. We also need to be pleased when we have three riders in the top ten. It’s progress and more will come in the next races.”

Results MotoGP Grand Prix of Hungary

1. Marco Marquez (ESP) Ducati 42:55.325
2. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +1.343
3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +11.632
9. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +24.491
10. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +24.601
15. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +48.536

1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Aprilia, 180 points
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Aprilia, 160
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) Ducati, 138
4. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 132
12. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 48
13. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 48
23. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 6

Moto3 hurried around Balaton for 20 laps and with at least three of the KTM GP Academy starting from slots on the first two rows of the grid. Brian Uriarte, brimming with confidence after his triumphant showing in Mugello seven days previously, was a prime runner but also had Red Bull KTM Tech3 pairing Valentin Perrone and (fellow rookie) Rico Salmela for company. Alvaro Carpe had to work his way up from P18 but was swiftly into the top ten.

All four riders engaged in an intense dispute for 3rd and a busy second group. Salmela, especially, was chasing a personal best result. The critical last lap was decided by a crash from David Muñoz, who was also in the fray and who touched the rear of 3rd placed Carpe at the time, and Uriarte, Perrone and Salmela could not avoid the fallen Spaniard. The race was red-flagged and the standing was confirmed from lap 19 of 20 placing Carpe in P3, Uriarte P4 and Salmela P5 (still a highest finish yet for the rookie Finn) while Perrone registered as a DNF as the Argentine could not recover and restart.

Carpe now has three podiums in a row and four from the last six Grands Prix. He is the highest KTM RC4 rider in the championship with 2nd position.

Alvaro Carpe: “A very difficult race starting from 18th position and to overtake on this track maybe looks easy but there are not many points to do it. All race we had to create opportunities, and I’m very happy to get this third podium in a row; this is the consistency we want in the championship. Really happy with the team and I think we deserve this. I felt good and clever in the fight. If I had started on the two front rows maybe we could have gone for 2nd. But the reality is that we are 3rd today. Thanks to everyone and see you at the next race.”

Moto2 carried on the intensity from the Moto3 race and provided a gripping episode of action prior to the MotoGP showpiece. The 22 laps began with Red Bull KTM Ajo duo Collin Veijer and Jose Antonio Rueda launching from P7 and P14 on the grid. Veijer was hunting maximum points until a mistake into Turn 5 on lap 7 put him out of the race. Rueda circulated on the edge of the top ten. The rookie Spaniard is building his pace and potential in his first intermediate season and logged more points with P11 at Balaton.

1. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team 33:39.745
2. David Almansa (ESP) KTM +4.227 +3.147
3. Alvaro Carpe (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +7.037
4. Brian Uriarte (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +7.194
5. Rico Salmela (FIN) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +7.374
7. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team +20.276

1. Maximo Quiles (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 170 points
2. Alvaro Carpe (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 111
3. Marco Morelli (ARG) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 77
5. Brian Uriarte (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 72
7. Valentin Perrone (ARG) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 60
14. Rico Salmela (FIN) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 35

1. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP) 37:10.278
2. Filip Salac (CZE) +1.552
3. Senna Agius (AUS) +3.925
4. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team +4.367
5. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team +9.561
11. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +22.404

1. Manuel Gonzalez (ESP) 154.5 points
2. Izan Guevara (ESP) 105
3. Celestino Vietti (ITA) 102
5. Daniel Holgado (ESP) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 76
6. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO Aspar Team, 71
12. Collin Veijer (NED) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 36.5
18. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 13