MotoGp, sprint races: controversy mounts over yet another post-Valentino Rossi innovation

Novelty announced for 2023 divides MotoGp riders

It came as a bolt out of the blue and triggered numerous voices of opposition among the riders themselves to the introduction, from 2023, of sprint races on MotoGp weekends. A deliberate move to counter the declining popularity of MotoGP, on which inevitably weigh as much the retirement of Valentino Rossi as, at least this season, the prolonged absence due to injury of Marc Marquez.

Going down hard is, among others, the reigning world champion and current leader of the world championship standings, Fabio Quartararo: “They didn’t consult me. I find the idea totally stupid, it doesn’t make sense – his words collected by ‘Marca’ -. Twenty-one races are already too many and if you get hurt you miss many race weekends. In some grand prix it could also be interesting, but running a Saturday race before another longer one on Sunday is dangerous. I think of circuits like Assen or Mugello, we would arrive very tired.”

Of a similar tone were the words of Aleix Espargaró : “I don’t like the idea at all, already with the current qualifying format it is difficult to prepare the bike, let alone like this. I’m crazy about racing, but this is going too far.” His brother Pol is also against it: “I understand it’s about giving more races to the fans, but for us it becomes a double risk: I think about myself and my physical integrity, I don’t see myself on a grid twice in one weekend.”

Some riders, however, fall into the “undecided” category. Alex Rins would prefer the current system, but “with the points up for grabs it will be interesting”; Jorge Martin says he is “not particularly happy” but argues that “for MotoGp it is an important step toward more spectacle.”

Some are also in favor: among them Joan Mir, who says “having more races and less testing is better,” and Jack Miller, who appreciates the short race format “because I can give my best without worrying about tires or fuel.”

Also appreciating the idea of the sprint race are Johann Zarco, according to whom “it will be of an exciting challenge,” and Enea Bastianini, who unlike the other Ducatista Pecco Bagnaia (read the Piedmontese rider’s statements here) thinks that the introduction of sprint races can “be an extra opportunity for the riders, and in general good for MotoGp.”

MotoGp: here’s how the sprint races will work