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

MotoGP launched dash races in the beginning of the 2023 season, considerably altering the collection’ outdated and confirmed weekend format.

Whereas the consensus stays that the transfer is successful, some really feel that it has taken consideration away from qualifying and made the schedule much more punishing for groups.

In an unique interview with Motorsport.com’s sister title Motorsport-Total.com , former KTM crew supervisor Francesco Guidotti prompt that the outcomes from the dash race needs to be used to find out the beginning grid for the grand prix. This is able to additionally make Friday’s second observe session much less demanding for these concerned.

The concept isn’t precisely new, because the dash race within the World Superbike Championship is used to kind the primary three rows for the second essential race. Guidotti would really like the MotoGP dash to determine your complete beginning order of the grand prix.

“If I may change one thing, it might be qualifying. With the present format, we’ve to push very onerous on Friday afternoon. Nevertheless it’s solely Friday,” defined Guidotti.

“Saturday is simply too demanding. Q1 and Q2 are very exhausting. Two hours later we have already got the dash race. I’d change the qualifying format.

“If it have been as much as me, there could be a mixed qualifying session from the Friday afternoon and Saturday morning classes. This is able to outline the beginning grid for the dash. I’d then use the results of the dash race for the beginning grid for the principle race.”

Though qualifying is extra vital for riders and groups than previously, because of overtaking being tougher than earlier than, media consideration is considerably decrease as a result of the dash takes place shortly after qualifying on Saturday.

“Presently, qualifying is just vital for 2 hours. It was once vital from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon,” mentioned Guidotti.

“With the present format, the media focuses extra on the dash race than on qualifying. From a media perspective, qualifying is an enormous danger for nearly nothing.”

One other criticism of the brand new format is that the dash is of little significance for riders working exterior the highest 9.

“If you’re not within the prime 9, there isn’t any must push. It doesn’t matter if you happen to end P12 or P15. It makes no distinction. It might be completely different if it mattered for the beginning grid of the principle race,” he mentioned.

“One other benefit could be that the riders wouldn’t begin such dangerous strikes as a result of they might have to remember that they might be penalised for a fall with a foul beginning place. The entire weekend could be a bit extra balanced with this format.”