MotoGP Unveils New Race Weekend Format for 2027

MotoGP organizers have unveiled a revised race weekend format for the premier class, set to take effect from the start of the 2027 World Championship season.

The headline change is the introduction of a second qualifying session, which will determine the starting grid for the Sprint race. Scheduled for Friday afternoon, this standalone 15-minute shootout will see all riders fight for grid positions.

Ahead of that, the weekend will get underway with a 45-minute Free Practice session, followed by a 30-minute practice run on Friday afternoon leading directly into Sprint Qualifying. Saturday morning will feature an additional 20-minute practice session ahead of Main Qualifying.

Main Qualifying will retain its two-part, 15-minute structure, but with a major tweak. Direct entry into Q2 has been scrapped in favor of a knockout format similar to Formula 1. Every rider will now take part in Q1, with the fastest 12 progressing to the final pole position shootout.

The Sprint race will stay in its Saturday afternoon slot, while Sunday will also undergo several adjustments. The morning warm-up session—shortened from 20 to 10 minutes a few years ago—has been completely axed. Instead, the pit lane will remain open for 10 minutes prior to the Grand Prix for sighting laps, doubling the previous five-minute window that limited riders to just a single reconnaissance lap before taking their grid spots.