The mini-race on Saturday, the big news of the 2023 World Championship, offered competitive spirit and entertainment, but also divided the riders due to excessive risks and injuries. It takes time to adapt to the new format, but the public liked it
March 29, 2023
– Milan
On the Sprint Race, the “short” MotoGP 2023 race that debuted on Saturday 25 March in Portimao, one cannot behave like Pontius Pilate: a first dry judgment must be given, a “yes” or a “no”, promoting or rejecting the new format wanted by Dorna and the FIM to relaunch the World Championship. The Sprint Race shouldn’t be understood as a single solution to the problem of the MotoGP’s declining appeal, but as an attempt to rekindle the interest of the general public, thus enticing them to follow the traditional Sunday race. It will be like this? We’ll see soon and then we’ll draw conclusions. However, something had to be done and time, we repeat, will demonstrate whether this Sprint Race is the right way.
right into the fray
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Indeed, there is no lack of criticism of the new format, considered useless and too risky for the riders who take to the track to give their all and win, which involves risks and even accidents. It is equally true that in the Sprint Race the driver with the least competitive vehicle plays better, or thinks he plays better, his chances by jumping into the fray from the first to the last meter of the race and this also ignites the race and creates a show. But in the end he counts the order of arrival and it will also mean something if in the first Sprint Race there is the reigning world champion duo in front of everyone, I’m sorry Bagnaia on Ducati. At the center of everything remains the “MotoGP product”: how interesting is this hyper-technological MotoGP today on a technical and competitive level with a 300 HP motorcycle and over 360 km/h, with aeronautical acceleration, technical engine (electronics), chassis ( lugs) and tires (single rubber)?
duels and risks
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Above all, it must be understood how important the driver is today, who the Sprint Race wants to bring back to center stage. This was seen in the first round a Portimao, in a final classification with the first two in the sprint and the first five with a gap of under two seconds: this gives value to the race and legitimizes the Sprint Race. Then you can enter the labyrinth of “ifs” and “buts”, but there is only one reality: the first Sprint Race passed the debut exam with 12 show laps and duels of technical and competitive value that enthralled the public. Then there is the other side of the coin and it concerns the increase in risks: the Sprint Race, with five riders crashed in the first 3 laps, seemed like the Moto3 of the doors. It was in the account: it is up to the riders and teams to adapt to the new format and race direction is needed with an iron fist, without discounts for those who exaggerate.
split pilots
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Among the pilots there are different assessments. The former world champion Fabio Quartararo, in the end tenth after being hit by Mir in the excited first lap, rejects the Sprint Race: “A jungle, so soon there will be a serious accident”. Not happy either Aleix Espargaro: “I hope the audience enjoyed it, I didn’t: I saw five crashes, it was crazy and we were all on edge.” Positive, however, the judgment of the first three arrivals Bagnaia, Martin, Marquez: “It’s the show that was needed”. Of course, it was the entire weekend that was turned upside down with the riders of the premier class “hanged” right from Friday’s free practice to show up as far forward as possible on the starting grid of the race on Saturday afternoon (the qualifying times also apply to the grid of Sunday). Did you want more shows? There he is! In motorcycling, more shows mean more close combat on the track, more overtaking, more risks. It’s always been like this. Bagnaia says it well after the race: “Last year we complained because there was no overtaking and now we complain because there were too many? If you have to pass an opponent you have to be aggressive, but this is racing.” Already. Then, the pilots have the throttle and it’s up to them to dose it. The general manager of Ducati Corse is right Gigi Dall’Igna: “In the Sprint the riders use their heads”. Those who exaggerate make mistakes and often others pay the bill. Too bad for the two fractured riders (Pol Espargaro and Enea Bastianini) who can only be wished a speedy recovery and return to the track: in 48 hours the MotoGP starting grid has already lost two protagonists. Now there are only 20 left and an impoverished grid is not a good sign, but it is not the first time that accidents of this type and with these consequences have occurred in motorcycling. Summing up, the new format of the Sprint Race passed its first test well because people like it. Wasn’t that what you wanted?
March 29, 2023 – 08:38
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