Riding as the lone Kawasaki competitor in the full-time WorldSBK line-up this year, Gerloff has shown that he and his Ninja ZX-10RR are capable of top six results and strong points scores. A sixth place in the opening round was followed by a top seven at round two.

An unrewarding Assen round in mid-April saw Garrett go from 12th overall to 14th in the championship points table. His immediate aim is to get back into greater contention for top ten race finishes across the three individual WorldSBK contests at Balaton.

Gerloff is fully ready to face the challenge of the unique 4.075km-long Balaton Park circuit, and is particularly motivated after being involved in a multiple rider crash in the first-ever Balaton race in 2025. 

The layout of Balaton Park is quite individual, with two main ‘arms’ of the circuit containing a very slow first corner complex, three chicanes in all, and a hairpin at half distance that brings the riders back to the pits and main grandstand area. The track is quite short at 4.075km, but is a truly modern venue in all regards. It was used by WorldSBK for the first time in 2025.

Garrett and his fellow WorldSBK riders will take on two Free Practice sessions on Friday, 1 May, then FP3, Superpole Qualifying, and Race on one Saturday, before a ten-lap Superpole Race and then a final 21-lap Race Two complete the race card.

Balaton is the second of five WorldSBK rounds which will take place over alternating race weekends, through April, May and June, with the next in the ‘two-weekly’ sequence taking place at Autodrom Most, in Czechia, between 15-17 May.

Garrett Gerloff stated: “This Balaton round comes at the right moment, giving us a chance to make up for the Assen races where we didn’t achieve what we deserved. I don’t have good memories of this track, as I was involved in a group crash here last year and had to sit out the final race. Our goal is to quickly find a good setup for our Ninja, the characteristics of which should suit this winding and technical track quite well.”