MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

With a WorldSBK round at the Balaton Park circuit done and dusted, it was the turn of Ducati's MotoGP riders to try the track. Yesterday, the Ducati Lenovo, Pertamina VR46 and Gresini Ducati riders rode the Hungarian circuit aboard Ducati Panigale road bikes, as permitted under MotoGP testing rules. They were accompanied by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, also on a street Panigale.

After the test, Ducati put out a press release, shown below. Both Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez used the word "unique" to describe the layout, a tight and slow track which has had chicanes added to make it safe for WorldSBK and MotoGP. What we learned from the WorldSBK round there two weeks ago is that while the standard of facilities at the circuit is very good, and the new surface has a lot of grip, the layout is very tight. So tight that Aruba.it Ducati WorldSBK rider Alvaro Bautista told Motorsport.com that he thinks the MotoGP bikes might not even make it into fifth gear. 

That tracks with the onboard footage shot by Marc Marquez for this action camera sponsor Insta360. It is clear from the shots of the dashboard and from listening to the gear changes that he he only hits fifth gear twice throughout the entire lap aboard the Ducati Panigale. With the additional 60+ horsepower of the Desmosedici GP25, he is unlikely to need fifth gear at all.

Watch the onboard lap of Balaton Park by Marc Marquez below:  

Holidays are over: the Ducati Lenovo Team back on track at Balaton Park with the Panigale V4 S together with all the Ducati Corse MotoGP teams

The holidays ended prematurely for the Ducati Lenovo Team and the other Ducati Corse MotoGP teams. Marc Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia, together with the riders from VR46 Racing Team and Gresini Racing Team, headed to Balaton Park for a day of testing on the Ducati Panigale V4 S.

It was a busy Tuesday, a team-building event with seven riders on track (together with Marc and Pecco, also Fabio Di Giannantonio, Franco Morbidelli, Alex Márquez, Fermín Aldeguer and Michele Pirro) to get used to the Hungarian track, which will host the Hungarian GP for the first time the weekend of August 22-24. A total of approximately 70 laps between Pecco and Marc and a more than positive feedbacks ahead of the imminent return to racing (next track event - August 15-17, Austrian GP at Spielberg).

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63)

"Getting back on the bike after the holidays is always nice. My first impressions of the Balaton track are good. The track is small, you have to be careful in the chicanes, but I'm satisfied. The layout is unique, and we're having fun. It will be different with the Desmosedici GP, but for now I'm enjoying it with the Panigale V4, even trying to slide it".

Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team #93)

“A great day on track with the entire Ducati Corse Squad. I'm happy; the track layout is unique and unusual. It will require a slightly different riding style; it's a stop and go track and you'll need to adapt. The faster you get into the rhythm, the better it gets, and you can really enjoy the speed. The tarmac is good; they did a great job. I can't wait to race here with the MotoGP bike".