MotoGP will change the weekend format starting from the 2027 season. With the new regulation, a 15-minute sprint qualifying session will begin on Friday, but the Sunday morning warm-up session will be removed from the schedule. This change will ensure that each race features separate grids for Sprint and Grand Prix at the end of the week. This regulation has been approved by the FIM Grand Prix Commission's decision dated October 7th, and only the MotoGP class is affected.
Time Slots for Friday Will Be Determined
Friday will begin with a 45-minute starting practice session, the same as the current format. Following this, a second practice session of 30 minutes will be held instead of the current 60-minute session. Lap times recorded in this second session will no longer be included in any session. The final practice session of the day will determine the sprint qualifying order, and this 15-minute session attended by all riders will determine the starting position for the Tissot Sprint on Saturday afternoon. Although this arrangement is very similar to today's one-hour practice, the track time on Friday will be reduced by 15 minutes.
Qualifying Will Start from Q1 on Saturday
The practice program for Saturday will begin with a third practice session of 20 minutes. The Saturday morning practice, which lasts 30 minutes in the current format, will be reduced to 10 minutes. Following this, the Grand Prix qualifying will take place, and the main change will occur in this session. Riders who finish in the top 10 in the Friday practice will proceed directly to Q2, but this distinction will be removed in 2027, and all riders will participate in a 15-minute Q1. The top 12 riders in Q1 will advance to a 15-minute Q2, which will determine pole position and the top four starting positions for the main race, i.e., the top 12 grid positions. The Sprint will retain its position on Saturday afternoon; in 2027, the Sprint will race in the grid determined by the Friday sprint qualifying.
Qualifying Sessions Will Be Replaced by Race Pre-Qualifying Sessions
On Sunday, the MotoGP program will begin with a 10-minute warm-up session with Moto3 and Moto2 races. The track time allocated for warm-up will be moved immediately before the main race. Riders will be able to test their motorcycles multiple times before the start by leaving the pit lane open for 10 minutes. The main race will start with the grid determined by the Saturday's Q1 and Q2 results. With this arrangement, the starting grids for Sprint and Grand Prix will be completely separate.
The Decision Will Apply Only to the MotoGP Class
The Grand Prix Commission stated that it wants to balance the qualifying sessions by reducing the track time in the practice sessions. This change applies only to the MotoGP class; no changes have been made to the Moto2 and Moto3 programs. The Commission consists of members including Chairman Carmelo Ezpeleta, Paul Duparc (FIM), Mike Webb (IRTA), and Biense Bierma‘ from (MSMA). FIM President Jorge Viegas was present at the meeting. MotoGP expressed the reason for this change with the following words:
The new format brings together an incredible spectacle for spectators and a balanced track time for riders, teams, and manufacturers for every session.
The new motorcycles and technical regulations will come into effect in the same season. The biggest change in the format is that all riders will start from Q1 for the Grand Prix qualifying. The Friday practice session necessary for direct entry into Q2 will be completed with a qualifying session that will determine the Sprint starting position in 2027. The opportunity for riders to test their motorcycles on Sunday morning is moved to ten minutes immediately before the race. The new regulation will be effective from the 2027 season.
New Technical Regulations
There will be many innovations in MotoGP in the 2027 season. New technical rules will include reducing the engine capacity from 1000 cc to 850 cc, the removal of Fahrwerkshöhenverstellung (Devices) systems, and reductions in aerodynamics. Furthermore, Michelin will be replaced by Pirelli regarding tires. Additionally, a separate elimination system is introduced for Sprint; this will be a 30-minute second practice session on Friday afternoon, which changes the current 60-minute timing. A 15-minute Sprint Qualifying will be arranged for Sprint. For the Grand Prix, all riders will participate in Q1, followed by the top twelve fastest riders moving to Q2. This new arrangement reduces the total riding time for MotoGP by 25 minutes on a weekend basis. Nevertheless, one additional session must be managed per week for riders and teams.
Conclusion
The new format aims to create a balance. MotoGP stated that this regulation creates an incredible spectacle for spectators and a balanced riding time for riders, teams, and manufacturers. The new regulation will be implemented from the 2027 season.
Figures
- Archive: Toprak Razgatlıoğlu Returns to MotoGP Mandalika (October 7, 2026)
Compiled from 2 sources covering the same story.
Compiled by Şükrü Utku Poyraz
