Pecco Bagnaia has put forward a way to separate MotoGP’s two starting grids: qualifying would continue to determine the Sprint order, while each rider’s fastest lap in the Saturday race would be used to form Sunday’s Grand Prix grid. The idea is part of the discussion around separating the grids from 2027; no final regulation has been presented.

Since Sprints joined the MotoGP schedule in 2023, the same Q1-Q2 qualifying process has set the grid for both races. A poor qualifying therefore carries consequences across the whole weekend, while a lap cancelled because of yellow flags can also leave a rider far down the order. Crash.net reports that other options under discussion include a separate qualifying session for the Sprint or using the Sprint finishing order for Sunday, following the model of the WorldSBK Superpole race.

Bagnaia’s preferred model

The two-time MotoGP champion would retain the current qualifying session as the basis for the Sprint, then use Saturday’s lap times to give riders a chance to improve their Sunday starting position. As reported by Crash.net, Bagnaia sees parallels with procedures used in World Supersport and British Superbikes. The Sprint would consequently have a second role beyond deciding its own result.

Such a system would need a specific rule for riders who do not complete the Sprint. In World Supersport, race lap times are used for the first three rows, with qualifying order restored from tenth place onwards. That is the example cited in the discussion, rather than a confirmed MotoGP format.

A second chance without another session

Bagnaia has experienced the current system’s double effect himself, qualifying 16th at Silverstone and 14th at Misano. He argues that using one qualifying session for two races can make a crash in qualifying costly for the entire weekend, while Sprint lap times could offer a route to recover some of that lost ground.

The Italian is also against adding another session to an already demanding Saturday. He rejects using Friday afternoon Practice to set the Sprint grid as well; that session currently determines the ten riders who progress directly to Q2. For Bagnaia, the objective is a more balanced format that creates a second opportunity without extending the schedule.