Skip to main content
See who owns your news
Published • loading... • Updated

MotoGP to Introduce Sprint Qualifying Amid 2027 Format Changes

The reform gives sprint races their own grid and trims practice time, with MotoGP saying the new format adds stakes for every session.

  • On Wednesday, MotoGP announced a revised 2027 weekend format introducing a dedicated 15-minute Sprint qualifying session on Friday, creating a separate grid for Sprint races independent from the Grand Prix for the first time.
  • Since 2023, Sprint and Grand Prix races have shared identical Saturday morning qualifying grids despite offering separate championship points, with Sprint races awarding 12 points to winners on Saturday afternoons.
  • Friday will feature 45-minute FP1, a shortened 30-minute FP2, and the new 15-minute Sprint qualifying, while Saturday includes 20-minute FP3 before Q1 and Q2 qualifying with all riders entering Q1 and the top 12 advancing to Q2.
  • Sunday mornings will no longer feature the traditional ten-minute warm-up session, replaced by riders completing multiple sighting laps during a ten-minute window with the pitlane open for 10 minutes before the Grand Prix.
  • MotoGP stated the new format "balances an incredible spectacle for fans and new stakes in each session," with the changes substantially less disruptive than the 2023 Sprint race introduction that reshaped the entire weekend.
Insights by Ground AI

56 Articles

Lean Left

The MotoGp from tomorrow returns to the track for the Gp d'Indonesia, but at the moment to hold the bench in the paddock is above all the discussion on the new format of the weekend announced by the organizers for the season 2027. What changes? The main novelty is the introduction of a qualification dedicated to the Sprint, thus creating separate starting grids for [...] The article "Use the pilots as if they were livestock, risk their lives for…

·Rome, Italy
Read Full Article
Center

The main goal is to maximize the adrenaline separating the starting grids: Friday will be the qualifying for the Sprint, while Saturday will be the one for the Sunday race

·Rome, Italy
Read Full Article
Lean Right

The new format for MotoGP in 2027 will create a completely different race weekend. Two qualifying sessions, the elimination of warm-ups, and the addition of 850cc engines will change the face of the premier class.

Lean Left

MotoGP management has announced a complete reorganization of the competition format in the Royal Class, which will come into effect from the 2027 season. The main change envisages the introduction of two separate qualifying sessions – one for the Saturday sprint race and the second for the main Sunday race, by analogy with the sprint stages in Formula 1. Unlike F1, however, in the world championship of motorcycling on the track sprint starts are…

Center

So far there was only one qualifying session, on Saturday morning, which determined the starting grid for both Saturday afternoon's sprint and Sunday's Grand Prix. Next season, Grand Prix Fridays will have two free training sessions, 45 and then 30 minutes, plus a 15-minute rating session, which will define the starting grid for the sprint race. On Saturday morning a third free session of 20 minutes will be held and then the drivers will play th…

·Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Read Full Article
Lean Left

Introduced a series of modifications, change also the qualifications for the race

·Rome, Italy
Read Full Article
Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

motors-addict broke the news on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal