The new Sprint race has modified the usual structure of the weekends
The FP1 and FP2 on Friday will serve to define the drivers who go directly into Q2
With a week to go before the expected pre-season tests start in Sepang, MotoGP is already beginning to prepare for the new season that is presented with important changes. And not only in terms of the teams and their drivers, but also in the organization of the race weekends, which with the advent of the new sprint race has been forced to change.
MotoGP has made official today the new schedules that will already be released at the Portuguese GP that will open the 2023 World Championship on March 26 at the Portimao circuit. The new sprint appointment, which will add even more competitiveness to the championship, with more points at stake, will be held every Saturday at 3:00 p.m., after the qualifying sessions.
your new #MotoGP weekend format! ?
Grand Prix weekends will have a fresh new look in 2023 with the Sprint headlining Saturday afternoons! ?#SprintingInto2023 pic.twitter.com/vkLLVMQhbR
— MotoGP™? (@MotoGP) February 1, 2023
New format:
Friday
On Friday it will continue to host two free practice sessions in each of the three categories. In the case of MotoGP, FP1 will be at 10:45 a.m. and will last 45 minutes, while the second will take place at 3:00 p.m. and has been increased to 60 minutes. The combined times of both sessions will determine the direct participants in qualifying Q1 and Q2 for MotoGP™.
Moto2 will have two sessions of 40 minutes and Moto3 another two of 35 minutes. Both will count towards the combined times, but in these categories the P3 on Saturday morning will also count.
Saturday
Saturday is the day that presents the big news. The premier class will have a half-hour free practice session, similar to the previous FP4, just before the qualifying sessions. Q1 will start early, at 10:50, followed by Q2 which will end at 11:15. After these batches, the pilots will go through a press conference.
DAZN, welcome to the best part
Work will continue at 3:00 p.m. with the dispute of the sprint race. In between, Moto2 and Moto3 will play a half-hour P3 before the qualys that will start at 12:50 p.m. for the small category, and start at 1:45 p.m. for the intermediate.
Sunday
It will be the day with the fewest changes. Without warm-ups for the small categories, the MotoGP starts at 9:45 a.m. They will hold a 10-minute session, before giving way to a parade for the fans at 10:00 a.m.
The races will start at 11:00 for Moto3™ before the Moto2™ race at a slightly earlier time of 12:15. The MotoGP™ Grand Prix race will take place from 14:00with the traditional Grand Prix podium set for 15:00.