MotoGP is shaking up its entire weekend schedule with a radical new format that mirrors Formula 1, as Speedcafe reports. Traditionally, the grid for both the Saturday sprint and the Sunday grand prix has been decided by a single qualifying session. That old way of doing things is completely gone.
Now, the action kicks off on Friday with a 45-minute Free Practice 1 session. This is followed by a 30-minute Free Practice 2 session on the same day, which eliminates the old format where the top riders progressed straight into the second phase of qualifying. Instead, Friday concludes with an all-in 15-minute qualifying session specifically for the sprint race.
I think obviously this will add that layer of competitiveness on Friday,
Saturday morning opens with a brief 20-minute hit-out in Free Practice 3. After that, the grand prix grid is decided through a two-part knockout qualifying affair. All 22 riders enter Q1, with only the 12 fastest riders progressing to Q2. Saturday’s packed program then finishes off with the sprint race, utilizing the grid set by Friday's sprint qualifying.
Sunday drops the traditional pre-race warm-up entirely. In its place, riders get a brief 10-minute window to complete multiple sighting laps. This gives way to the Moto3 grand prix, followed by the Moto2 grand prix, and finally the premier class grand prix with its grid set by Saturday's qualifying sessions.
MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta explained that the overhaul aims to make the sport more understandable for newcomers while adding a fresh layer of competitiveness to the opening day. Total track time for MotoGP has been reduced, which means less physical fatigue for both the riders and the teams over the course of the weekend.
“I think obviously this will add that layer of competitiveness on Friday,” said Carlos Ezpeleta, adding that the proposal ultimately came straight from the teams themselves following recent experience with sprint races. The Grand Prix Commission officially ratified the decision.
