Last year, the race took place at the end of July, so environmental conditions might differ this time. One thing is certain: at least one new name will be added to the roll of honor because, in 2025, Toprak Razgatlioglu secured pole position, 3 victories, and the 3 fastest laps in the race.
Data of the round
According to Brembo engineers working closely with 13 of the 14 teams in the Superbike World Championship, the 4.075 km long Balaton Park Circuit falls into the category of highly demanding circuits for brakes. On a scale from 1 to 5, it earned a difficulty rating of 4 due to 9 braking sections per lap, totaling 29 seconds. Moreover, 4 braking sections are classified as High, one as Medium, and 4 as Light, but the overall load on the brake lever is not excessive: 720 kg from start to finish in standard races.
The toughest corner of the Balaton Park Circuit for the braking system is the first one: Superbikes go from 272 km/h to 56 km/h in 4.8 seconds, covering 207 meters while riders apply a load of 5.4 kg on the brake lever. The deceleration is 1.5 g, and the Brembo brake fluid pressure reaches 11.6 bar. The 216 km/h reduction achieved during braking is among the 5 highest speed deltas in the entire championship.
The trio of nine
Nicolò Bulega is the third rider in the history of the Superbike World Championship to have won all the first 9 races of the season: the first to achieve this feat was Neil Hodgson in 2003, followed by Alvaro Bautista in 2019, a year in which he claimed victory in the first 11 races, achieving a clean sweep in the first 4 rounds because the Superpole Race in Assen was not held due to snow. In the Englishman's era, however, each round consisted of only 2 races, and thus he also remained unbeaten in the first 4 rounds.
What an evolution for the caliper
Hodgson had a Ducati 999, while Bautista and Bulega share the Panigale V4R, at least in name, as the current one is very different from the namesake used by the Spaniard in 2019. The braking system has also made great strides in 7 years, starting with the caliper, which now boasts fins and quick releases, has larger thrust sections, and is more efficient thanks to amplification. Additionally, it has been lightened by 3 percent and is equipped to measure temperature continuously.
Only one so far
All 9 World Superbike Championship races held in Hungary have been won by motorcycles equipped with Brembo brakes. Four of these victories were achieved by Fred Merkel, always riding the Honda of Oscar Rumi's team and always at the Hungaroring: the American won Race 1 in 1988, secured a double victory the following year, and claimed Race 1 in 1990. Toprak Razgatlioglu, on the other hand, achieved three victories with BMW at Balaton Park, while Ducati's sole triumph occurred in Race 2 in 1990, thanks to Raymond Roche.