MotoGP is set for its biggest weekend format change since sprint races were introduced, with a revamped schedule coming into effect for the 2027 season.
The new format was approved by the teams following a vote at the Red Bull Ring and will change how practice and qualifying sessions are structured across the race weekend.
The main objective is to give both qualifying sessions a clearer purpose while creating more competitive action from Friday onwards.
Friday will take on greater importance as riders begin the weekend with a 45-minute practice session, followed by 30 minutes of Free Practice. The day will then conclude with a new 15-minute sprint qualifying session, which will determine the grid for Saturday's sprint race.
This means the sprint grid will no longer be decided by the same qualifying session used for the main Grand Prix. Riders and teams will instead have to find performance much earlier in the weekend, with Friday becoming a crucial part of their overall strategy.
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Saturday will then focus on preparing for the main event. A 20-minute FP3 session will be followed by qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix, giving riders a separate opportunity to fight for their starting positions in the full-length race.
The sprint will continue to take place on Saturday afternoon, maintaining one of the most popular additions to the modern MotoGP weekend.
Sunday, meanwhile, will be simplified. The traditional morning warm-up will be removed, with a new 10-minute pitlane opening giving riders an opportunity to complete final checks and a limited number of laps before the Grand Prix.
The changes are also designed to create more room for rider appearances, promotional activities and fan engagement on race day, while putting greater emphasis on the main Grand Prix.
For teams, the revised format will bring a fresh set of challenges. Tyre management, bike setup and rider preparation will have to be carefully balanced across two separate qualifying sessions and the sprint before the main race.
With sprint races already adding another layer of competition to MotoGP weekends, the 2027 changes could make Friday just as important as Saturday and Sunday.
The new format marks another major step in MotoGP's efforts to reshape the race weekend, with every session set to carry greater significance when the 2027 season gets underway.
