Carmelo Ezpeleta and his Dorna troops, responsible for promoting MotoGP in the broad sense, have brought down their trump card for the 2023 season in the form of a new Grand Prix format driven by the arrival of this great novelty that is the sprint race. They hope that this will be an asset to revive public interest in the meetings, a popularity which will be measured both in the stands and through TV audiences. An upheaval which will also have an impact on the appearance of the title race with more points to be taken, as well as to be lost, at each meeting. Because the sprint race will be on the program of the 21 events on the calendar. Which deserves some explanation…
We know that the drivers will not make 21 starts in 2023 but 42, even if the sprint race which is added, and which is scheduled for Saturday, will only take place over half the distance of the traditional Sunday joust. , which is obviously maintained. There will be more risks, more efforts for the protagonists who actually negotiate with their employers so that this surplus is taken into account in their contract already signed through bonuses... But there will be more spectacle, and the latter generally causes inflation of interest.
It remains that if the concept of the sprint race already exists among the cousins of WSBK, also managed by Dorna, it is with the Formula 1 that it is compared when we relate it to MotoGP. However, among single-seaters, we are far from having this test in all cases. Formula 1 takes a different approach when it comes to sprint racing. They have only taken place on a few selected race weekends since the 2021 season. While there were three in 2021 and three in 2022, there will be six sprint races in the 2023 season. Formula 1.
Carmelo Ezpeleta: “ a time window opens in which more promotional activities can be carried out with the drivers«
A difference reported, so much so that the CEO of Dorna, Carmelo Ezpeleta, explains why such a model does not work for MotoGP: “ it was clear to us from the start that they had to be integrated into all races », declares the Spaniard on the sprint races on motorsport.total that holds the top spot. " If you want to make Saturday more attractive, it must be standardized. This new format has an impact not only on Saturday, but also on Sunday He adds.
« With the elimination of warm-ups for Moto2 and Moto3 and the shortening of the warm-up for MotoGP, a time window opens in which more promotional activities can be carried out with the riders. This applies both to circuits and also to TV. This initiative was welcomed with great enthusiasm by race organizers and track operators.. It is not possible to offer this initiative for certain Grands Prix and not for others », develops the boss of the Dorna.
When asked if, apart from the introduction of sprint races, any other changes to the MotoGP weekend program could be imminent in the future, he replied: “ Nothing is planned at the moment, but we are still thinking about it ". So perhaps we are not yet at the end of our surprises.
