ROUND 17 / OCTOBER 9-11, 2026
PERTAMINA MANDALIKA INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT / LOMBOK, INDONESIA
P62
CONTROVERSIAL NEW
FORMAT ANNOUNCED
MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ez-
peleta said the new qualifying
format aims to reduce track time
and make the weekend easier for
new viewers to follow. The revised
schedule introduces a separate
15-minute Friday qualifying for the
Sprint, followed by a Q1 session
with all 22 riders, with 12 advancing
to Q2 to set Sunday's grid. Sunday
warmup has also been removed,
prompting criticism from riders.
Ezpeleta said teams requested a
revised schedule at Misano, while
Michelin data showed most riders
already completed two time attacks
on Friday afternoon. He said the
new format keeps existing track
activity while reducing pressure on
riders and giving them separate
grid opportunities for the Sprint and
Grand Prix. Numerous riders didn't
concur. Some saw being in Q1
regardless of Friday's performance
as added stress. Coupled with an
already demanding schedule, many
saw the chance for more injuries
to increase. "It doesn't really mat-
ter what we think about it," said
Pedro Acosta. "But it will be a
tough year because you know how
much stress a rider has during a
MotoGP weekend. It starts already
on Wednesday with pre-events.
Then there are many, many times
that we will be in a very high stress
level." Some weren't bothered about
warmup being scrapped. Others,
like Jack Miller, felt it was unac-
ceptable. "You need a warmup.
Plain and simple. These bikes aren't
a Moto2 or Moto3. You need, first
of all, to ride it. It also is a thing for
the riders to get out there. We're not
in a car—this is the most physical,
demanding motorsport there is."
Briefly...
ROAD RACE I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
