The MotoGP world championship will launch in 2023 a format of sprint races on Saturday during Grand Prix weekends, announced the president of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) Jorge Viegas on Saturday.
"It’s time to give MotoGP more exposure on TV but also to spectators. We need a better show and we need to fill the Saturdays,” explained Viegas.
Viegas, president of the FIM, during a joint press conference with Dorna, the championship promoter and the IRTA (International Road-Racing Teams Association), which represents the brands involved in MotoGP.
The sprint race will take place every Grand Prix Saturday. It will represent the equivalent distance of half of the Grand Prix contested on Sunday and will offer riders half of the points awarded on Sunday during the main race.
Thus, each rider will be able to recover in the championship up to 37 points per weekend, against 25 currently. The proposed format is reminiscent of the one adopted last year in Formula 1, although this doesn't make sprint races a standard precursor to GPs. In 2022, only three GPs hosted sprint races.
In MotoGP, the sprint race will have no qualifying value, unlike in F1. Qualifying will continue in the current format and will determine the starting grid for the main race the following day.
The announcement triggered mixed reactions, with reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo calling it “totally stupid” and citing additional fatigue for the riders. He disparaged a lack of consultation with riders.
