Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. In some embodiments, a hybrid data storage device operates in a normal mode in which data transfer commands received from a host device are serviced by a top level controller circuit which directs a first subset of the received data transfer commands to a non-volatile rotatable recording memory and a second subset of the received data transfer commands are directed to a non-volatile solid-state memory. The controller circuit transitions to a performance mode responsive to a detected first parameter so that subsequently received data transfer commands are directed exclusively to the solid-state memory. The controller circuit terminates the performance mode and resumes the normal mode responsive to a detected second parameter.