Neil Hodgson column: A perfect track needs five main elements, and Marc Marquez has two rivals at Balaton Park

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In Neil Hodgson's new column, the TNT Sports expert explains the five essential elements that make a great MotoGP track. He also notes the kind of aspects of a track that riders hate to deal with, while suggesting why the new Balaton Park track in Hungary could suit Marc Marquez as well as two other competitors over the weekend's racing.

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I think a perfect track needs five main elements.

First, you need fast corners, and those corners need to open out. Riders love going around fast corners that open out, that allow you to slide the bike around them.

It gives you a lot of feeling and a lot of thrills, so fast corners are vital for a track.

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Then, you need one long straight. A long straight creates great racing because it keeps the group together.

If one rider is pulling away when you get on a really long straight, then the slipstream effect takes over. That then pulls along the bike behind, and that keeps the group pulled together and improves the racing.

You also need elevation changes. Hills are fantastic from a rider’s standpoint, and you have them at tracks like Portimao in Portugal, which is like a rollercoaster, or Laguna Seca in the US. That’s a really quite extreme track, and it’s terrific to race around circuits like that.

Another key element is a great last corner. What does that look like? It’s a corner that provides an overtaking opportunity, that gives you drama right until the end of a race.

Some tracks don’t have that, but some are wonderful. Assen in the Netherlands, it’s got a chicane for the last corner, and it’s perfect.

There’s Jerez, with another great final bend, and Termas in Argentina. Termas is a very technical last corner, but it’s a really good passing opportunity for the riders.

The last element you need is big banked sections for the fans, but the track has to be in its own natural atmosphere, where the fans are looking down at you.

Obviously grandstands provide that, but at the great tracks it’s usually just big hillsides and valleys, like Mugello. Brno has the same thing.

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While the riders like the fast, open tracks, they aren’t getting that from a lot of the new school, modern races.

A lot of the classics, they're 100 years old, they’ve stood the test of time, and they haven’t changed much because they haven’t needed to. They’ve followed the natural contours of their surroundings.

Nowadays, you might find a place like Valencia, which seems to have been designed on the back of a cigarette packet. It’s made in a relatively small footprint.

A designer might have tried to fit two and a half miles of track in a smaller space. It qualifies for a FIM world championship event, but there are plenty of 180 corners, and they’re in first and second. For a rider, it’s not thrilling to go around.

The advantage is for the fans, though. There’s a great big grandstand, and it allows the spectators to see every corner.

Fans love it, because they can take it all in. I’ve covered races there and, unfortunately, it’s so hard to overtake that it makes for more of a procession than a race.

Another problem for riders is the first and second-gear corners. Chicanes often create that problem, and they also don’t want to go around 180 degrees, turning back on themselves at a slow pace.

It’s not just about the chances to overtake, but slow, twisty tracks mean that it’s easier to crash. You spend more time on the sides of your tyres.

Here at Balaton Park, it’s 2.5 miles long, but there’s no elevation change. It’s got a record nine first-gear corners.

Over half the corners, you’re in first, and there’s a medium-length straight, not a long one. It’s got a last corner you’ll struggle to overtake on because it’s one line.

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What happens with stop-start tracks is that riders will find it very difficult to overtake.

If you’re on the brakes into the chicane, it’ll be tough to pass the rider in front. He’ll then accelerate away, and then you get a concertina effect for everyone behind.

But what this does throw up is an interesting qualifying. Because if you get a good start and get away into the lead, overtaking is at a premium, and you can maybe hold on.

Hodgson's top five circuits in the world

I’ve raced over 100 different circuits. I’ve raced the British Championship, the American Championship, and I’ve raced across the world. The US has some of the quirkiest circuits in racing.

My top five would be in reverse order: Brno in Czechia; Donnington in the UK; Laguna Seca in the US, and Phillip Island in Australia at No. 2. My No.1 has to be Brands Hatch, also in the UK.

Brands Hatch is everything you want. It’s a layout that is relatively unchanged after a century. No first-gear corners. Fast, flowing corners. Natural banking.

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Hodgson backs Marquez and two contenders for Balaton Park

Get ready for a slow drum roll, but I think that this suits Marc Marquez. It’s anti-clockwise, and he always performs best when he’s got more left-bank corners than right-bank.

Marc’s best in the braking zone, and this track is all about brakes, with tight chicanes.

On a difficult track to pass like this, you need to be aggressive, and Marc is the most aggressive rider out there. On paper, he’s favourite. On form, he’s favourite.

But also, there’s Fermin Aldeguer. He was incredible last time out, and as a rookie, he’s got a leg-up.

At Balaton Park, there’s no data to rely on, everyone is new here. It’s a level playing field regardless of your experience. Last time out, he finished second, but he was closing in on Marc towards the end.

He’ll come here full of confidence, and he’ll fancy his chances. He’s aggressive and good in the braking zones, just like Marc.

Also, keep an eye out for Pedro Acosta. This circuit suits the brave and aggressive riders. KTM have improved their bikes too, so it could be the perfect mix for them this weekend.

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