I think MotoGP's two biggest problems are the quality of the racing and accessibility. But big stars have retired before and the sport has gone on. Rossi's impact on the sport was undeniable, and although he came closer than anyone to racing forever, no one races forever. MotoGP has problems it can control, problems it can't control, and problems of its own making. Why I don't think sprint races are the answer
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We might as well get used to counting them as full grand prix wins, because in 2 years time, people will have given up on counting them separately, same as has happened in WorldSBK.īut sprint races are irrelevant to solving MotoGP's problems. Of course complaints and concerns will fade away if the sprint races become popular and lead to increased fan attendance and more television viewers. Formula One has 22 rounds but only runs sprint races at three of them. With an expected 22 rounds in 2023, that will mean 44 MotoGP races. While World Superbike riders have three races a weekend, there are only 12 rounds this year, so 36 races. And it does greatly increase rider exposure. A sprint race, with riders unconcerned about tire wear or conserving energy, and knowing there was little time to advance, could lead to more aggressive riding and would certainly raise the possibility of crashes and injuries beyond that of a practice session the sprint race replaces. Some noted that although it amounted to no more track time, it did amount to more risk. (Defending champion Fabio Quartararo called it "totally stupid." Unsurprisingly, MotoGP did not include his comments in any of the videos of rider reactions.) Some riders were miffed that they weren't consulted. I look forward to being a part of it” 🎙️ - #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 /9g7oPupWd1 As a result, the news leaked out and some riders learned about the change from the media.
MotoGP officials briefed the teams on the decision and left it up to them to tell the riders. The announcement got off to a contentious start. In theory, expenses will not increase for the teams because the sprint race will replace a practice session, so the total amount of track time will be similar. On the Saturday afternoon of each race weekend, the MotoGP riders will compete in a half-distance race that pays reduced points - 12 points for a win instead of 25.
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"We have been looking at other sports, different possibilities, and we are trying to accommodate ourselves to offer a better show, especially for the fans, and this includes the promoters, and for television," said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of series organizer Dorna, in Saturday's press conference.Īnd while more changes are promised, the sprint races are the first move.
And in 2021 Formula One began adding sprint races to three rounds per season.
Of course World Superbike expanded its already busy weekend schedule in 2019 by adding the Tissot Superpole sprint race on Sunday, in addition to the full-length races on both Saturday and Sunday. While the sport is healthy by many metrics, organizers feel they have to do more and are changing the one-race format that has existed for more than 70 years, since world championship grand prix racing began. Thus the changes.Īttendance at the recent British Grand Prix was the lowest ever for a MotoGP event at Silverstone. A variety of technical factors has made overtaking more difficult.Īll of this has left MotoGP looking a little diminished. On top of Rossi's retirement, the sport has been without its biggest star, Marc Márquez, still recovering from yet another major surgery on his arm.Īnd while talent is deep and closely matched - the top 10 in qualifying this weekend at the Red Bull Ring in Austria were separated by just 0.564 seconds - the racing itself has sometimes been a little too processional. Die-hard fans may pay, but recruiting new fans is almost impossible under a "pay first and get hooked later" business plan. In many countries, televised races are behind a paywall. Ticket prices are high at many races, at a time when inflation is squeezing household budgets around the world. Attendance was notably down at Mugello in the heart of Valentino Rossi country for the first race where the local hero wasn't competing. Fan attendance at the recent British Grand Prix was the lowest ever for a MotoGP round at the Silverstone circuit. MotoGP is struggling against a few headwinds right now. But before I have my say, let's look at what's going on. Personally, I think it's missing the point. It's MotoGP's attempt to fix what's ailing the series (and organizers say it's just the beginning), but opinions are mixed about whether it will do any good.
MotoGP officials announced Saturday that the weekend schedule will undergo the biggest change in the history of the series next year with the addition of half-distance sprint races for the MotoGP class on Saturdays, along with the usual Sunday races.
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