MotoGP Overhauls Weekend Format for 2027 With Dedicated Sprint Qualifying and Separate Grids

The grid for a MotoGP race is settled in the frantic fifteen minutes of qualifying, a window where a single mistake ruins an entire weekend. Starting in 2027, riders will have to survive that crucible twice. The Grand Prix Commission has ratified a radical overhaul of the weekend format, introducing separate qualifying sessions for the Saturday Sprint and the Sunday Grand Prix.[1][3]

Under the current regulations, a single qualifying hour dictates the starting order for both races, meaning a Friday crash can bury a rider's chances for the whole event. The new structure severs that link. Friday afternoon will now feature a dedicated 15-minute Sprint Qualifying, while Saturday morning introduces a completely separate two-part qualifying for the main event.[3][4]

The shift mirrors Formula 1’s sprint weekend cadence and arrives alongside a massive technical reset that shrinks engine capacity from 1,000cc to 850cc. By splitting the grids, series executives aim to manufacture higher stakes on Friday while giving riders a second chance if their initial qualifying goes wrong.[3][4]

"I think obviously this will add that layer of competitiveness on Friday," MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta said following the announcement. "Having separate different grids for sprint and grand prix will give us that extra layer of excitement, but I think especially this format will make it much better for the fans."[3]

The new Saturday morning format forces all 22 riders into a 15-minute Q1 shootout, abandoning the current system where the top 10 from Friday practice earn an automatic bye. Only the fastest 12 riders will advance to the Q2 pole-position battle, creating a brutal bottleneck for the factory teams.[1][3]

To offset the extra high-intensity sessions, overall track time is being reduced. Friday’s second practice drops to 30 minutes, Saturday morning practice shrinks to 20 minutes, and the traditional 10-minute Sunday warm-up has been scrapped entirely in favor of pre-race sighting laps.[1][3]

The paddock reaction is sharply divided, with championship contenders warning about the physical toll. "There will be a lot of times to attack," Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin said. "The entertainment will be bigger, but so will the risks."[6]

Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez echoed those safety concerns, pointing to the already punishing calendar. "For the rider, it's only more intensity, more demanding," Marquez said. "And with the actual schedule, it's enough."[6]

KTM rookie Pedro Acosta was even more blunt about the injury risk. "It was already tough to find a rider who didn't get injured during a season, and it will be even harder with more sessions where we have to risk everything," Acosta told Canal+.[6]

Yet others welcome the safety net of a second session. Marco Bezzecchi noted that a mechanical failure on Friday will no longer destroy a rider's entire points haul. "Sometimes you have a bad Friday, and you maybe don't destroy two races with the same qualifying," Bezzecchi said.[6]

For the manufacturers, the changes are a necessary commercial evolution. Aprilia racing boss Massimo Rivola backed the move as a vital tool for audience growth. "We all need to start having a vision of the future of MotoGP, elevating the brand, and trying to find some new fans," Rivola said.[6]