The first sprint in MotoGP history will take place in Portimão this Saturday, the anticipation is great, as is the uncertainty. That’s what Quartararo, Bagnaia, Márquez and Co. say about the new format.
From 3 p.m. local time (4 p.m. CET), history will be made at the Portugal GP on Saturday afternoon, as the MotoGP riders will compete in a sprint over half the race distance for the first time. In the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, that corresponds to twelve laps. The winner gets twelve points, for 9th place there is another point. The sprint result has no effect on the starting grid for the main race on Sunday.
By the way, the sprint is not officially called a race. Only the Grand Prix on Sunday will count for the GP wins, but a new statistic will be started with the number of sprint wins.
“More MotoGP than ever,” promises World Championship promoter Dorna, referring to the additional racing action. The drivers themselves find it difficult to give an assessment of the new format before the premiere.
World Champion Pecco Bagnaia said: «I tried a sprint simulation and my feeling was good. The approach is different, you have to push like hell without worrying too much about the rear tire. After three or four races we will understand better how we have to work. But I think it’s a good change.”
Fabio Quartararo took a deep breath when asked about the sprint, but his expression didn’t show much enthusiasm. “If it can help the sport to grow in terms of the fans, that’s good,” the Yamaha star then sent ahead. At the same time he warned: “But you also have to consider that the sprints mean additional risk for the entire season, after all we are talking about 21 events. And of course you have to drive at the limit because it’s about points for the world championship.”
Repsol Honda star Marc Márquez differentiated: «I like the sprint itself, but the schedule of a weekend is too demanding for the drivers in my opinion. Because Friday already counts for qualifying for Q2, so FP2 is already like qualifying. 21 such weekends are quite exhausting. But I’m looking forward to the sprint, I think we’ll enjoy it – on the track as well as the spectators.”
“Every day counts – and a lot,” said Aprilia RNF newcomer Miguel Oliveira, summarizing the new format. “I’ve thought about the sprint a lot and changed my mind a lot. Right now I see it more like the riders who are in the top 10 will fight hard to get an extra point. But maybe a driver who isn’t close to the top 10 won’t invest a lot of energy and maybe even better prepare for the race on Sunday,” the Portuguese added another aspect.
“But we have to wait for the first sprint and see how it will be,” emphasized Oliveira. “I’m sure the first sprint of the season will be very eventful because everyone is looking forward to getting started – starting with just 12 laps will be interesting. I can imagine that there will be a lot of action, »he added with a slight smile.
“I think it will be a mental challenge,” said the five-time MotoGP winner. “Before, we had to do 25 or 26 laps in a row without making any mistakes. Now it’s 37 laps in a weekend that have to be perfect.”
Oliveira’s RNF teammate Rául Fernández even admitted with a laugh, looking at the sprint premiere: “I’m a little scared. No, it will be fun,” he added hastily.
Schedule Portugal GP 2023
Saturday, March 25 (CET):
09:40 – 10:10 (30 min): Moto3, Practice 3
10:25 – 10:55 a.m. (30 min): Moto2, Practice 3
11:10 – 11:40 Uhr (30 min): MotoGP, Free Practice
11:50 – 12:05 (15 min): MotoGP, qualifying 1
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. (15 min): MotoGP, Qualifying 2
1:50 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. (15 min): Moto3, qualifying 1
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (15 min): Moto3, qualifying 2
14:45 – 15:00 Uhr (15 min): Moto2, Qualifying 1
15:10 – 15:25 Uhr (15 min): Moto2, Qualifying 2
start times
4:00 p.m.: MotoGP Sprint (12 laps)
5:10 p.m.: Red Bull Rookies, Race 1 (14 laps)
Sunday, March 26 (CEST):
09:50 Red Bull Rookies, Race 2 (14 laps)
10:45 – 10:55 (10 min): MotoGP, warm-up
start times
12:00 p.m.: Moto3 race (19 laps)
1:15 p.m.: Moto2 race (21 laps)
3:00 p.m.: MotoGP race (25 laps)