Similarly, if it rains during QP2 but is dry during the first qualifying session, every rider in QP1 might post a lap significantly faster than any rider in QP2, but will still only be able to qualify for the lower positions. So, for example, if a rider that manages to qualify for QP2 actually does a much faster lap in QP1 than he manages in the second qualifying session, it won’t count for QP2.

It doesn’t matter how fast riders go in QP1, it won’t affect anyone in QP2.

The fastest two riders from QP1 will get a little bonus as they’ll be able to run in QP2, giving them a shot at the places from pole down to 12 th. As mentioned, this is to determine the positions of 13-last place. The times don’t necessarily matter, it’s just to further work on setup, but the faster you go the better you’ll be able to setup your bike, the more confidence you’ll have and so on.Īfter FP4 is QP1. However, before QP1 or QP2 takes place, Free Practice 4 (FP4) is run.įP4 is new for this season and is 30 minutes long.

The two fastest riders from QP1 get a last chance buy in, and then get the chance to qualify in QP2 for the places 1 to 12. QP1 is qualification for the places 13 to last place and is 15 minutes long. The remaining riders will go into Qualifying Practice 1 (QP1). The ten fastest riders will automatically go through to a session called Qualifying Practice 2 (QP2). All riders will be ranked according to their fastest time across all three sessions. First, they’ll be Free Practices 1, 2 and 3, which are largely unchanged from last season adn still 45 minutes long. Fastest two riders from the session enter QP2 Riders ranked in order of their fastest lap achieved in any of the 3 sessionsĪ final session to work on setup to prepare for one of the qualifying practices. To summarise, here’s how it works: Free Practice 1 (FP1) As with any rule change, it sends everyone from veteran journalists to first time race-watchers into a bit of a spin, so here’s what’s going on with MotoGP’s qualifying session, including the benefits – without benefits, they wouldn’t change anything, right? Follow the winter, the rule makers of MotoGP, Dorna, decided qualifying needed a bit of spicing up.

Motogp qualifying