Marc Marquez tipped to do Grand Prix Hungary double by Neil Hodgson after Sprint win - 'He's destroyed them'

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TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson thinks Ducati Lenovo's MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez can win Sunday's Grand Prix Hungary race after winning the Sprint on Saturday.

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Hodgson watched Marquez win with a dominant performance at Balaton Park.

For Marquez, it was an encouraging win, not just because of the points earned, but because it suggests that he is getting closer to full fitness.

The 33-year-old Spaniard underwent surgery on a damaged screw in his shoulder last month, and finished in the points at Grand Prix Italy last weekend.

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Marquez led from the off in the Sprint and was rarely troubled, and Hodgson had already written that he felt there was a strong chance he could land a double win this weekend.

Speaking immediately after the race ended, Hodgson praised Marquez's aggressive showing.

He told TNT Sports: "He's risked a lot, and it paid off. He's destroyed them.

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"It looked like [a canter]. Obviously, he pushed a lot early on. That was as comfortable a win as we've seen. Shades of last year. Shades of 2025, Marc in full control."

Ahead of Sunday, Hodgson analysed the different requirements over the longer format, and suggested that the tyres would need to be managed with more attention.

He continued: "Different tyres. Medium tyres. You've got to look after your tyres, lots of acceleration, more tyre wear.

"A rider can make a difference, that's what I'm trying to say. It's getting to that halfway point where flags come out, then you can see a difference.

"Marc starts as favourite. What we’ve seen on the weekend with that result, and with Marc doing a lot of laps on the medium tyre, I think this victory is almost like, not that he needs any more mental strength, you gain another percent."

For Ducati, the win gave the factory team a morale boost, though both Marquez and his team-mate Francesco Bagnaia (who finished ninth), are still well behind in the race for the title.

Both riders now have 83 points, well behind Aprilia duo Marco Bezzecchi on 180 after coming third, and Jorge Martin, who came sixth, on 160, who are first and second in the world championship standings, respectively.

The team have not won a main race since Japan last year, and Marquez did not rule out another success on Sunday.

He said: "On Friday, I was just trying to save some energy.

"Today, in the morning, I gave everything, because as we show in the race, if you're starting on the front row, it's a big help.

"The strategy was to push at the beginning, that was when I was feeling fresh. I survived in the end.

"The strategy worked in a better way. Tomorrow will be a longer race. Let's see how we can manage it."

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