The world of MotoGP motors is about to change significantly. Starting from the next season, the competition plans to implement two qualifying sessions per weekend: one for the main race and another for the sprint race, inspired by the Formula 1 format.
This initiative has already been presented in the dialogue forum that includes teams, championship organization, and manufacturers. Thus, it is expected that the proposal will get the green light in the coming days, allowing its incorporation for next season.
Currently, MotoGP uses a single qualifying session that determines the grid for both the main race and the sprint race. With the expected increase in sprint races, going from six to ten for the next season, the new format could enhance the excitement of competitions.
Teams and manufacturers have positively received this measure, although the final adoption will require following the appropriate regulatory channels. One of the aspects that will need to be defined is the schedule for the races during the weekend, as MotoGP intends to schedule the sprint race in the afternoon, unlike F1, which runs it in the morning on Saturday.
Moreover, there are rumors that some involved parties could propose splitting qualifying into three sessions (Q1, Q2, and Q3), like in F1, instead of the current two-stage system. This would allow for greater dynamism and competition among riders.
Interestingly, the idea of introducing sprint races into MotoGP was born at the Spielberg circuit, a place that will now host the Austrian Grand Prix. This strategy for sprint races began four years ago, coinciding with the start of its application in F1.
The introduction of sprint races has raised several challenges and concerns. Riders have mentioned the increased level of stress and risk under the new format, as they only have one free practice session before participating in qualifying, complicating their preparation.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
