P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Yari Montella says it was “special” to be on the podium at Balaton Park after a mixed start to the season.
Yari Montella considered his third place finish on the podium at the Hungarian WorldSBK Race 2 as “special” due to a challenging start to the 2026 season. This achievement marked his first World Superbike podium since Race 1 at Phillip Island and came at a track where he had faced difficulties in the past year. Montella expressed his happiness and pride in the team’s efforts in improving his performance throughout the weekend.
Following a lack of pace compared to Lorenzo Baldassarri in the Superpole Race, Montella made adjustments to his bike and riding style, leading to a successful outcome in Race 2. His strategy during the chaotic first lap allowed him to secure third place after Baldassarri went wide with Alvaro Bautista. Despite some struggles with rear tire grip, Montella managed to maintain a lead and bring home an important podium finish.
