MotoGP could be set for another significant change to its race weekend format. From the 2027 season, the championship may introduce a separate qualifying session specifically for the Sprint race, with the results determining the Sprint starting grid.
According to Motorsport, the proposal has reportedly been presented to manufacturers and teams. However, the change has not yet been officially approved and would still need to go through the necessary regulatory process.
A new qualifying session for the Sprint
MotoGP introduced Sprint races in 2023. Unlike Formula 1, however, MotoGP opted to hold a Sprint at every round of the championship rather than limiting them to selected events.
Under the current rules, the same qualifying session determines the starting grid for both the Saturday Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The proposed change would alter that system. A dedicated qualifying session would determine the Sprint grid, while a separate qualifying session would continue to establish the starting order for the main Grand Prix.
The move would represent a further step towards the Formula 1 model, where Sprint weekends already use a distinct qualifying structure.
How the current MotoGP weekend works
The current MotoGP schedule begins on Friday with FP1, which lasts 45 minutes, followed by a 60-minute Practice session.
The Practice classification is particularly important because the ten fastest riders advance directly to Q2.
Saturday begins with a 30-minute FP2 session, followed by Q1, which lasts 15 minutes. The two fastest riders from Q1 progress to Q2, while the remaining positions outside the top 12 are also determined.
Q2 then decides the first 12 positions on the starting grid.
The Sprint race, covering roughly half the distance of the main Grand Prix, takes place on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday features a 10-minute warm-up before the full-distance Grand Prix.
Concerns over an already demanding weekend
The possible introduction of another qualifying session could raise questions about the overall workload for riders.
MotoGP weekends are already packed with track sessions, media commitments and sponsor activities. Adding another competitive session could require changes to the timetable to prevent the schedule from becoming even more demanding.
The details of how the proposed format would work have yet to be established.
Final approval still required
The introduction of Sprint qualifying would have to receive formal approval from the Grand Prix Commission before becoming part of the MotoGP regulations.
As a result, the proposal is not yet guaranteed to become reality in 2027.
MotoGP has previously considered major regulatory changes that were ultimately abandoned. Earlier this year, for example, a proposal to introduce a one-bike rule appeared set to move forward before the plan eventually collapsed.
It is also unclear how extensively the riders have been consulted about the latest proposal.
There is a precedent for controversy surrounding the introduction of Sprint races. In 2022, riders reportedly learned through the media that MotoGP had approved the introduction of Sprint races for the following season.
For now, separate Sprint qualifying remains only a proposal. If approved, however, MotoGP’s 2027 weekends could feature two different qualifying sessions, one setting the grid for Saturday’s Sprint and another determining the starting order for Sunday’s Grand Prix.