MotoGP: Marquez destroys his rivals to take his seventh consecutive sprint victory in Hungary

MotoGP's six-time Marc Marquez destroyed his rivals at the 13-lap Balaton MotoGP Sprint to take his seventh consecutive sprint victory. F1Technical’s senior writer Balazs Szabo reports from the Balaton Park Circuit.

Having started from pole position, Marc Márquez maintained the lead at the start. However, he was almost taken out by 2021 MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo, who made a brilliant getaway off the line, but lost his Yamaha into the first corner.

On the opening lap, Johann Zarco and Enea Bastianini made contact at the chicane, with both of them having been forced to retire.

Having quickly built up a healthy lead from Valentino Rossi's riders, Marc Márquez fractionally eased off on the final lap, but he still crossed the line over two seconds ahead of Di Giannantonio to win his seventh consecutive sprint race.

VR46 rider Frand Morbidelli completed the poodium, recording his first sprint podium since the Grand Prix of Qatar.

Honda rider Luca Marini displayed a strong race performance to secure his best result with the Iwata-based manufacturer.

On the back of his second place at the Red Bull Ring, Fermin Aldeguer collected another good haul of points with a fifth-place finish.

Joan Mir finished sixth to complete a successful day at the Balaton Park Circuit for Honda.

Starting from second on the grid, Bezzecchi dropped back to seventh, with Alex Márquez and Jorge Martin having rounded out the points-paying positions.