Should MotoGP follow WSBK and let sprint races decide the starting grid?

MotoGP introduced sprint races at the start of the 2023 season, significantly changing the series’ old and proven weekend format.

While the consensus remains that the move is a success, some feel that it has taken attention away from qualifying and made the schedule even more punishing for teams.

In an exclusive interview with Autosport’s sister title Motorsport-Total.com, former KTM team manager Francesco Guidotti suggested that the results from the sprint race should be used to determine the starting grid for the grand prix. This would also make Friday’s second practice session less stressful for those involved.

The idea isn’t exactly new, as the sprint race in the World Superbike Championship is used to form the first three rows for the second main race. Guidotti would like the MotoGP sprint to decide the entire starting order of the grand prix.

“If I could change something, it would be qualifying. With the current format, we have to push very hard on Friday afternoon. But it’s only Friday,” explained Guidotti.

“Saturday is too stressful. Q1 and Q2 are very exhausting. Two hours later we already have the sprint race. I would change the qualifying format.

“If it were up to me, there would be a combined qualifying session from the Friday afternoon and Saturday morning sessions. This would define the starting grid for the sprint. I would then use the result of the sprint race for the starting grid for the main race.”

Even though qualifying is more important for riders and teams than in the past, due to overtaking being harder than before, media attention is significantly lower because the sprint takes place shortly after qualifying on Saturday.

“Currently, qualifying is only important for two hours. It used to be important from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon,” said Guidotti.

“With the current format, the media focuses more on the sprint race than on qualifying. From a media perspective, qualifying is a big risk for almost nothing.”

Another criticism of the new format is that the sprint is of little importance for riders running outside the top nine.

“If you are not in the top nine, there is no need to push,” he added. “It does not matter if you finish P12 or P15. It makes no difference. It would be different if it mattered for the starting grid of the main race.

“Another advantage would be that the riders would not start such risky moves because they would have to bear in mind that they would be penalised for a fall with a bad starting position. The whole weekend would be a bit more balanced with this format.”