Motorcycle Racing

MotoGP formally confirms sprint races for 2023 season

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team race start

On Friday during the Austrian Grand Prix, Motorsport.com revealed MotoGP was planning to introduce Formula 1-style sprint races at each event next season.

At a press conference on Saturday morning at the Red Bull Ring headed by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, FIM president Jorge Viega and president of the International Race Teams Association (IRTA) Herve Poncharal, sprint races were officially unveiled.

Each sprint race will take place on Saturday of a grand prix weekend but the results will not be used to form the grid for the main race, unlike in Formula 1.

When the idea was put to the riders by the media on Friday at the Red Bull Ring, the reaction was mixed, with reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo calling it “totally stupid”.

Many riders also revealed that they had not been privy to any discussions about sprint races, with it thought they were given official confirmation in Friday evening’s safety commission meeting.

More to follow…

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team race start

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

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