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Session overview
The FIM Supersport World Championship returned to Balaton Park Circuit for its Hungarian round, and the afternoon Superpole session delivered drama and surprises. Riding an AS BLU CRU Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R9 on Pirelli control tires, Albert Arenas posted the fastest single lap of the session with a 1:42.050 to claim pole position. The field contained 33 riders, and by the end of the session the provisional front row featured Arenas, Can Oncu and Matteo Ferrari. Throughout this report the term Superpole will refer to the single-lap qualifying shootout that determines the starting grid for WorldSSP race day.
How the session unfolded
Early in the session Can Oncu led the timing sheets and even bettered the previous benchmark by eclipsing the standing lap figure of 1:42.799 set last season by Stefano Manzi. Oncu eventually recorded a 1:42.255 to sit inside the top two when it mattered. Matteo Ferrari pushed his WRP Racing Ducati Panigale V2 to a 1:42.354 and initially looked set for a front-row start. In the closing stages Arenas found the conclusive effort, edging the field and stamping his authority on the session. The Superpole narrative was disrupted, however, when championship leader Jaume masia lowsided off at Turn 8; he walked away unhurt but his bike was too damaged for the team to return him to a faster lap, meaning he will begin the weekend from P25 on the grid.
Standout performances and steward decisions
The session produced several personal bests and notable improvements. Simon Jespersen enjoyed a significant step forward, moving well up the order to register his season-best Superpole result, while Filippo Farioli and Valentin Debise were also competitive and close in lap times. A key steward ruling altered the final grid: a Slow Riding Penalty applied by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards demoted Matteo Ferrari three places from his on-track result, which reshuffled the starting positions and promoted Jespersen and others on the grid. That administrative change is important for Race 1 strategy and will influence who occupies the true front row at lights-out.
Top qualifiers and equipment
The top end of the classification showed a mix of manufacturers and teams up front. The session top six based on recorded lap times featured: 1) Albert Arenas 1:42.050, 2) Can Oncu (+0.205), 3) Matteo Ferrari (+0.304), 4) Simon Jespersen (+0.309), 5) Filippo Farioli (+0.507) and 6) Valentin Debise (+0.518). Machines in the mix ranged from the Yamaha YZF-R9 and the Ducati Panigale V2 to the ZXMOTO-powered entries; team setups and the control tyre choice by Pirelli were decisive factors in lap time extraction during the cooler afternoon window.
Other notable results and context
Further down the order, several established names posted competitive times: Roberto Garcia was the lead GMT94 representative, while teammate Lucas mahias slipped to a lower grid slot than usual and will start well outside the top ten. Riders such as Jeremy Alcoba, Federico Caricasulo and Philipp Oettl found season-best or strong qualifying returns, each earning positions inside or close to the top ten, which could prove influential over the race distance. The session also underlined how quickly fortunes can change in motorcycle racing—mechanical repair capability, steward rulings and single-lap execution all shaped the final grid.
What to expect in the races
With grid slots settled, attention shifts to Race 1 and Race 2 where tactical starts and tyre management will be critical. Albert Arenas will carry the responsibility of converting pole into race points, while a resilient Jaume Masia—despite starting from P25—has shown in the past that strong recovery rides are possible at this circuit. Teams will study Superpole data looking for race-pace gains, and spectators should anticipate tight battles through the midfield as several riders who qualified close together will be hungry to improve their championship positions. Fans can follow the action live or on demand via the official WorldSBK video services to see how the grid order translates into race outcomes.