MotoGP is considering two separate qualifying sessions per race weekend, according to a Motorsport.com report on MotoGP qualifying changes. One session would set the sprint grid, and the other would decide the grid for the grand prix. The proposal has emerged from talks between teams, manufacturers and the championship’s organisers, and it would mark the biggest structural shift to a MotoGP weekend in years.
MotoGP Considers Dual Qualifying Format for Sprint and Grand Prix
Right now, MotoGP runs a single qualifying session each weekend. Whatever grid comes out of that session sets the order for both Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s grand prix. Under the new proposal, riders would instead face two distinct qualifying sessions — one purely for the sprint, another purely for the main race.
It’s a straightforward idea on paper, but it would change how riders and teams approach an entire weekend. A single bad lap in qualifying currently costs a rider twice over; splitting the sessions would give everyone a genuine second chance.
Motorsport.com Details Proposals Discussed in Dialogue Forum
According to Motorsport.com, the proposal was raised during a dialogue forum bringing together teams, manufacturers and the championship organisation. These forums exist precisely for this kind of debate, where competing interests thrash out changes before anything reaches a formal vote.
Motorsport.com also reports that one party in the discussions wants something more ambitious: a three-stage Q1, Q2 and Q3 format. That would mirror the system Formula 1 has used for two decades, going further than simply adding a second session — it would introduce knockout stages within each one, adding jeopardy to every lap.
None of this is confirmed as final. It’s a proposal on the table, reported by Motorsport.com, and it hasn’t been put to a vote or signed off by the championship’s rule-makers.
Grid Impact and Alignment with Formula 1 Weekend Structure
The comparison with Formula 1 isn’t accidental. Liberty Media completed its acquisition of MotoGP rights holder Dorna in mid-2025, and the American company’s fingerprints are increasingly visible across the championship’s direction. F1 itself will host 10 sprint events next year, up from six in 2026. A dedicated qualifying session for those sprints has been part of the F1 weekend for years.
Motorsport.com reports one main structural difference would remain, even under this proposal: timing. MotoGP would leave its sprint until late afternoon, rather than running it earlier in the day as F1 does. That’s a small distinction, but it matters for broadcast scheduling and for how a race weekend actually feels trackside.
For riders, a second qualifying session would change preparation entirely. Set-up choices that favour one lap over a full sprint distance, or vice versa, could no longer be fudged into a single compromise. It’s the kind of shift that could turn top spot in premier class practice into a genuine qualifying advantage. It also arrives at a moment of already shifting dynamics across the paddock.
Regulatory Approval Timeline and Implementation Outlook
Motorsport.com reports the format change is expected to be approved in the coming days, with a view to implementation as early as next season. That timeline hasn’t been confirmed by MotoGP itself, and nothing here should be read as a done deal. Proposals discussed in a dialogue forum still need to clear the championship’s formal approval process.
If it does go through, teams will need to adapt quickly. New rider line-ups already shape future grid line-ups for next season. A revised qualifying structure would add another variable for every garage to plan around before the season even starts. We’ll know more once the championship confirms its position.
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