Marc Marquez takes Grand Prix Hungary pole position, Pedro Acosta claims second on grid at Balaton Park

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Marc Marquez continued his comeback from injury by claiming pole at Grand Prix Hungary, with Pedro Acosta taking second place at Balaton Park on Saturday morning.

'Not ready' - Polesitter Marquez expects Acosta to succeed at Grand Prix Hungary

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ducati Lenovo's Marquez had surgery in October, and then again in May, to resolve a shoulder problem, with the latest operation removing a broken screw in the troublesome joint.

The 33-year-old current MotoGP world champion had said that he was unable to ride to the best of his ability, and played down his chances both at Balaton Park, and before then in the world championship itself, for the current campaign.

However, an impressive showing last weekend in his first race back saw him briefly lead before settling for seventh spot.

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In Hungary, he was the quickest in qualifying, earning him first spot for the start of both Saturday’s Sprint race, and Sunday’s full-length event, both shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Marquez crashed early on a slow corner in Q2, but quickly recovered to put down the fastest lap of the session.

Second spot went to Pedro Acosta of KTM, widely tipped to become Marquez’s team-mate next season, with TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson writing on Friday that he is one of the favourites for the weekend.

Highlights: Bezzecchi claims first Grand Prix Italy victory as Aprilia secure one-two

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ducati satellite team BK8 Gresini provided the third-quickest rider of the morning, with Fermin Aldeguer taking the final spot on the front row.

Another satellite for Ducati, VR46 Pertamina, has Fabio Di Giannantonio in fourth spot, and Ducati Lenovo’s other rider, Francesco Bagnaia, is fifth.

After Aprilia dominated last week’s race, the Ducatis will be looking to redress the balance with this strong showing.

Bagnaia was third at last weekend’s event in Mugello, suggesting that the former world champion’s search to rediscover his best form is picking up pace as he looks to finish what is almost certainly his last season at Ducati with a positive string of performances.

Current world title leader Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia is sixth fastest after winning last weekend at Grand Prix Italy.

Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez was seventh fastest, and Jorge Martin was eighth. Martin trails Bezzecchi in second spot in the overall standings, and Luca Marini was the ninth fastest.

Fernandez’s stablemate, Ai Ogura, is 10th fastest, while Diogo Moreira is the second quickest of the Hondas in 11th. Pramac Honda’s Jack Miller is 12th fastest.

Of the notable riders who failed to make it out of Q1, Monster Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo was 15th, Toprak Razgatlioglu for Pramac Yamaha was 18th.

Iker Lecuona, standing in for BK8 Gresini's injured Alex Marquez, was 16th. Britain's Cal Crutchlow was last for Honda as he raced in Johann Zarco's absence.

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