Aleix Espargaro : the Riders Don’t Like the Friday Format

RiderTua.com – Aleix Espargaro is in 3rd place in Q1 of the Portuguese GP. But strangely the Aprilia rider was the fastest rider who did not enter Q2, even though his time would be enough to occupy 9th place on the grid if he repeated it in Q2. Instead, he started from 13th position. “My record time is approaching the second row if I am in Q2,” said the rider from Spain.

Aleix also said that riders did not like the current practice and qualifying system, but admitted it was difficult to find a solution that suited everyone. “I don’t really enjoy the format, we have to qualify in FP2 to get into the top 10. I don’t think there are any riders in MotoGP who like it. I can tell because when I was in the Safety Commission there was no one who liked it. But I think it’s good for the show and for us have to adapt,” explained the 34 year old rider.

Aleix Espargaro : The riders don’t like the Friday format

The existence of sprint races increases the importance of MotoGP qualifying, which now determines the grid order for two races every weekend, not just one race as before. Coupled with the difficulty of overtaking and the risk of increased front tire pressure when stuck in a group as well as small mistakes that can occur during qualifying or simply bad luck when ‘stuck’ in a yellow flag, can have fatal consequences.

Perhaps the biggest ‘qualifying’ moment of the weekend came on Friday afternoon, where a top-10 finish gave direct access to Qualifying 2 and guaranteed riders would start no lower than 12th (out of 22).

Those who fail to qualify Q2 will battle it out in Qualifying 1, allowing the two fastest riders to join Friday’s top 10 in the fight for pole position in Qualifying 2. The remainder qualify in the order they finished Q1, from 13th on the grid onwards.

While riders don’t like the pressure of flying laps on a Friday afternoon, most understand that it’s good for the show to have something to chase (fight over) on the first day of a weekend’s racing.

A ‘flipped’ grid could also provide better racing, but should the system be changed so that for example more riders can progress from Q1 to Q2? For your information, the Moto2 and Moto3 classes allow 14 riders (not 10 in MotoGP) to immediately qualify for Q2 after practice and then allow the next 4 riders (not 2) to pass through Q1, of course from a larger field.

Expanding the Q1 to Q2 positions from 2 to 4 riders in MotoGP will at least help overcome situations like Portimao, where the top 7 riders in Q1 lap faster than the slowest riders in the next Q2 session.

Aleix Espargaro added that qualification was very, very important. This really affects our race. If you are able to place your bike in the first row in qualifying, then in the sprint you will at least finish in the top 5!

Pol Espargaro’s older brother (KTM test rider) was reluctant to reveal the specific alternatives suggested by the riders for Friday’s concept. “We’re just having an opinion, but this all belongs to Dorna, not the riders. So we have to follow the rules. And the reality is that for show when we put two soft tires (for time attack) on Friday afternoon, for the people watching it was good, ” said Maverick Vinales’ teammate.

“So I understand, if we go 1 hour without soft tires, it will be very boring. But yes, qualifying can compromise a lot at the weekend. This is very important. But this is not about whether I like it or not,” concluded Laura Montero’s husband .