The sprint race will be the big novelty of this 2023 season for MotoGP which has reviewed and corrected the format of its Grands Prix to accommodate it. The competition, because it takes place on Saturday over half the distance of a traditional race which will always be scheduled for Sunday, is reminiscent of the Superpole Race of a WSBK which does its three races in one weekend. Even if comparison is not right, the riders took a closer look at what this game could bring and some listened to the one who was one of them and who is now in World Superbike, Danilo Petrucci. And that didn't really reassure them...
That said, it must be understood that, since the Mandalika Superpole Race, the tone rose a little higher in the agitated Superbike peloton. In Australia, for his first experience, Danilo Petrucci had the impression of finding himself in a " bar fight ", and that he had " taken in the head ". In Indonesia, he described the same competition as “ bumper car ride », having notably witnessed the clash between Alex Lowes and Loris Baz, the latter paying for the contact of a broken leg and ankle…
« The sprint? To hear Petrucci's statements, it looks like a disaster... In MotoGP, I think it will be even worse«
Feedback that was listened to and analyzed by Luca marini who thus draws these conclusions… “ To hear Petrucci's statements, it looks like a disaster... Knowing the level, the bikes, the riders in MotoGP, I think it will be even worse », alerts the pilot of the VR46. " With the wings and these tires it will become more and more difficult to overtake, the bikes heat up a lot being behind each other. You'll have to be good at inventing new ways to surpass yourself. We are going towards a more complicated MotoGP, where we will sometimes have to take a lot of risks to overtake."
He explains about Motoracing : " it will be a race that will promote greater competitiveness even for those who are not competitive for Sunday in the long race. You can race with softer rubber, which normally lasts around ten laps, but those with fuel consumption issues can also be there ". And he mentions what the moment of truth will be for a Grand Prix in 2023: “ qualifying will really determine 75% of a weekend ". Response on Saturday March 25 at 15:00 p.m. at Portimao, as part of the inaugural Portuguese Grand Prix…
Loris Baz out of the Superpole Race 👀#IDNWorldSBK ️ pic.twitter.com/gn8qyvcjuu
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) March 5, 2023
