Sprint races will appear in MotoGP from the start of the 2023 season. So we decided to look into the matter. Yesterday, we presented the format in addition to explaining its theoretical advantages. This is why reading this first part is strongly recommended; click on this highlighted sentence to read it.
Very subjectively, we are quite perplexed about these shortened tests. Here, in a few points, is why we do not believe so much in this project.
Firstly, the pilots, the main stakeholders, are not more excited than that. fabio quartararo, among other things, finds the idea “totally stupid”, which does not help to make the fans swallow the pill. The study of the history of motor sports teaches us: When drivers, de facto the only players in the discipline, disapprove of a formality, a point of regulation or the introduction of a new format, it gets stuck and it makes immediately said unpopular idea, for a simple reason: they have more legitimacy than anyone else. Certainly, there are counter-examples like the Halo in Formula 1, reviled by the paddock at the beginning then accepted later. The central place they hold biases the judgment, and we must also take this parameter into account, we grant you that. But overall, it's not a good indicator.
Aleix Espargaró, like Quartararo, is not the biggest fan of the idea. We must also put injuries into perspective, which will be much more impactful. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Second, enough is enough. The multiplication of “major sporting events” is fashionable, because of the logically greater financial benefits. We think that 20 games per year were enough. Human beings get used to everything and soon, we could be tired. Realize: there will be 42 departures in 2023, it's just huge. And contrary to what one might think, the sports that occur most often are not necessarily the most popular or even the most profitable. To illustrate this argument, let's cross the Atlantic once again.
The four major American sports are recognized worldwide, although they remain national championships. However, in MLB (major league baseball), it is not less than 162 games (not counting the playoffs!) which are contested by each team in one season. All specialists agree that baseball, formerly " America's game », popular sport par excellence, is losing steam considerably in the USA. Audiences fell by almost 20% in three years, and the average age of fans is 57 years. The same goes for basketball with the NBA: the 82 regular season games fail to excite the country's crowds who prefer American football (NFL). And in fact, let's mention the example of a season of this atypical discipline. She counts 17 games per team only. Each meeting is seen as an event throughout the United States, and the audiences remain much higher than any other sport.. Thus, we risk losing the exceptional aspect of MotoGP, and the show, diluted, will no longer have the same flavor.. This is, by far, our greatest concern regarding sprint races because many historical examples legitimize it (Nations League for international football, Sim Racing and its thousands of leagues, baseball and conversely the World Cup , magnificent because it is rarer).
Watch out for free electrons of the Álex Márquez type on this short format. Its adaptation to the Desmosedici should be monitored closely. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Third, the change of schedule. We find it quite a shame that MotoGP is once again inspired by Formula 1, after the Amazon Prime documentary MotoGP Unlimited which undoubtedly did not have the desired effect with the public, light years away from the Netflix product Drive to Survive. But at least, in single-seaters, qualifying was moved to Friday evening (for the European rounds), and the sprint races took place on Saturday. In 2023, MotoGP will occupy the entire Saturday while Friday will remain “without stakes”. Of course, we do not doubt for a moment that the readers of Let's talk MotoGP, enthusiasts among enthusiasts, will not miss a bit of the show. But we must recognize that from a practical point of view, this is far from being a gift and many fans will have no other choice than to skip one of the two events of the day. Certainly, the services offering replay are multiplying, but not everyone benefits from it on a global scale.
Conclusion :
On paper, the idea is quite relevant. But in practice, it will pose many organizational problems and provided that we do not tire of the MotoGP show, already widely criticized this year. In Formula 1, the main influence of motor sports at the time of writing, the format is not convincing either and yet DORNA has decided to adopt it. If we add to this the dissatisfaction of certain pilots, we are not starting on solid foundations, to say the least. It's a double-edged sword: Either our heroes “play the game” and give 100% over ten laps, or they reserve themselves for Sunday. This would be understandable, as injuries will cost much more. Nothing worse could happen to DORNA, who would be caught in her own trap.
What do you think ? We are interested in your opinion, so tell us in the comments!
Will we discover a “specialist” in the new format? It's not impossible. One of the drivers in the peloton could well stand out, having much less to lose than the officials. A Bezzecchi perhaps, gaining confidence and with a nice burst of speed. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
