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- Marc M\u00e1rquez and Pedro Acosta have criticised the 2027 weekend changes<\/strong>, raising concerns about rider workload, safety and involvement in decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Francesco Bagnaia supports separate qualifying sessions<\/strong>, saying the four riders who attended a Safety Commission meeting agreed with the proposal but wanted to retain the warm-up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta says the changes originated with the teams and maintains that rider feedback remains part of the process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
MotoGP’s new race-weekend format for 2027 has exposed a disagreement among some of the championship’s biggest names, with Marc M\u00e1rquez and Pedro Acosta questioning the additional pressure on riders while Francesco Bagnaia defends the introduction of separate qualifying sessions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The changes, announced on October 7, will create different starting grids for Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s grand prix. Riders will complete a dedicated 15-minute sprint qualifying session on Friday, followed by another qualifying programme on Saturday to determine the grid for the main race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The championship will also eliminate Sunday’s traditional warm-up, replacing it with a longer pit-lane opening that allows multiple sighting laps before the grand prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While MotoGP has presented the reform as an opportunity to improve the spectacle, several riders have questioned whether the benefits justify another high-pressure session during an already demanding calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The controversy has also developed into a debate about how much influence riders actually have over decisions affecting their working conditions and safety<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M\u00e1rquez and Acosta question the demands of the new format<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
M\u00e1rquez was among the riders who reacted critically to the announcement during the Indonesian Grand Prix weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ducati rider questioned the need for further changes when competitors already face a demanding schedule of practice, qualifying, sprint races and grands prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also argued that riders have limited influence over decisions ultimately made by teams and championship organisers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Teams and the organisation decide, so, you take it or you leave,”<\/strong> M\u00e1rquez said during Thursday’s press conference at Mandalika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His comments reflected frustration over a process in which riders do not have the final authority to approve sporting changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acosta expressed similar concerns, arguing that MotoGP should be reducing the demands placed on competitors rather than adding another session requiring maximum performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The KTM rider believes the championship’s current schedule already creates considerable physical and mental pressure, particularly because riders must repeatedly operate close to the limit while managing the risk of crashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It doesn’t matter what we think, they haven’t given us a choice,”<\/strong> Acosta said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Spaniard suggested that reducing the number of sprint races could provide a better balance between sporting spectacle and rider workload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00c1lex M\u00e1rquez also questioned the consultation process, arguing that the changes had effectively been agreed between teams and organisers before riders were able to influence the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AFP__20260917__C8LC6MN__v1__MidRes__MotoPrixAutMotogpPresser-1024x675.jpg\")
Pedro Acosta (Photo: AFP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Bagnaia supports separate qualifying but opposes removing warm-up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bagnaia offered a different perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ducati rider believes the current system, in which one qualifying result determines the grids for both the sprint and grand prix, places excessive importance on a single session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A crash, yellow flag or mistake can compromise both races, even when a rider has the pace to compete near the front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Separate qualifying sessions would allow competitors to recover from a difficult Friday before Sunday’s grand prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bagnaia therefore considers the new format an improvement<\/strong>, although he strongly opposes eliminating the warm-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Italian believes riders need an opportunity to assess their motorcycles and tyres on Sunday morning, particularly with MotoGP introducing new 850cc machinery and Pirelli tyres in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His position also challenges the suggestion that riders were completely excluded from discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bagnaia explained that four riders attended the Safety Commission meeting at Motegi, where the proposed format was presented and discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Italian, those present agreed with the qualifying changes but requested that Sunday’s warm-up remain part of the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He argued that broader participation in the meetings would have given riders greater influence over the final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luca Marini has also welcomed aspects of the revised schedule, suggesting that separate qualifying sessions could improve the sporting format despite making the weekends more demanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AFP__20260917__C8L47VM__v1__MidRes__MotoPrixAutMotogpPreviews-1024x701.jpg\")
Francesco Bagnaia (Photo: AFP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n MotoGP responds to criticism over rider consultation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta has defended the process, explaining that the changes originated from discussions involving the championship’s teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposal was approved through the sport’s decision-making structure, with the aim of creating separate grids while maintaining a workable balance of track time and commercial activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ezpeleta has maintained that rider feedback remains important and that teams were encouraged to consult their competitors during the development of the proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the disagreement highlights a distinction between riders being offered opportunities to provide feedback and having a formal role in approving the regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The four riders who attended the Safety Commission meeting were consulted, according to Bagnaia, but several others say they had little influence over the final decision.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
That difference helps explain why the same process has generated contrasting reactions within the paddock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The championship has not announced a reversal of the new format or confirmed that the warm-up will be restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What will change in MotoGP qualifying in 2027?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The new format replaces the existing system in which Friday’s timed Practice determines direct access to Q2 and Saturday’s qualifying establishes both race grids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 2027, Friday will feature a 45-minute FP1, a 30-minute FP2 and a 15-minute sprint qualifying session involving all riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saturday will begin with a 20-minute FP3 before the grand prix qualifying sessions. Every rider will participate in Q1, with the fastest 12 advancing to Q2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Session<\/th> 2027 format<\/th><\/tr> Friday FP1<\/td> 45 minutes<\/td><\/tr> Friday FP2<\/td> 30 minutes<\/td><\/tr> Friday sprint qualifying<\/td> 15 minutes, all riders<\/td><\/tr> Saturday FP3<\/td> 20 minutes<\/td><\/tr> Saturday GP Q1<\/td> 15 minutes, all riders<\/td><\/tr> Saturday GP Q2<\/td> 15 minutes, fastest 12<\/td><\/tr> Sunday warm-up<\/td> Removed<\/td><\/tr> Pre-race pit-lane opening<\/td> 10 minutes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The changes will coincide with MotoGP’s transition to 850cc motorcycles and revised technical regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Francesco Bagnaia supports separate qualifying sessions<\/strong>, saying the four riders who attended a Safety Commission meeting agreed with the proposal but wanted to retain the warm-up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n