MotoGP has announced a radical change to its weekend format, introducing a sprint qualifying session starting from the 2027 season.
Since sprint races were introduced in 2023, MotoGP has used the same grid for both its sprint and main race in a difference to the similarly Liberty Media-owned Formula 1.
However, series organisers MotoGPSEG have announced a radical change to bring sprint qualifying into play on Friday afternoons, which will see two completely different grids set for the sprint and the main race.
It is almost a complete overhaul to Friday’s action – which had been altered with the introduction of an hour-long ‘Timed Practice’ session midway through the 2024 season, where the 10 fastest riders received direct entry to Q2.
The weekend will start off as usual with 45 minutes for FP1 on Friday morning, before returning to FP2 in the afternoon for 30 minutes.
Direct entry into Q2 has now been removed due to the change in weekend format, given the shorter session, which will now be followed by sprint qualifying.
Sprint qualifying will take place for 15 minutes and will decide the grid solely for Saturday’s sprint race in the biggest change to the weekend.
The new plan for Saturday sees 20 minutes for FP3 and qualifying remain in its spots in the morning – unlike F1 which has its sprint race before main qualifying – while the sprint will take place in the afternoon.
However, the qualifying format has also changed. All riders will now partake in Q1, with the 12 fastest riders progressing to the shootout for pole in Q2.
In perhaps the most controversial change, MotoGP has removed its warm ups for the premier class after abandoning the session for Moto2 and Moto3 before the sprints, with all three races taking place on Sunday.
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