How does the MotoGP qualifying format work? Everything you need to know

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Qualifying in MotoGP can be one of the most exciting parts of the race weekend but can also be crucial to a riders strategy. With that in mind, here is the whole format explained.

Much like any other form of motorsport, achieving a good starting position can be key to determining a rider’s chances of securing a good result in the Saturday afternoon Sprint and Sunday afternoon race.

Starting at the front means a rider has less work to do in the race as they will not need to overtake as many rivals on track, especially in the opening laps when they could be risking a crash.

The rider who starts from pole position has the best chance of leading from the first corner, which enables them to stay ahead of the pack. Here is how the various sessions throughout the weekend help them achieve the best possible starting position.

The role of practice sessions in MotoGP qualifying

Riders and teams are usually working towards qualifying when they complete practice sessions.

Practice usually starts with a 45-minute session on Friday morning followed by a 60-minute practice session on the Friday afternoon.

These are important for the riders as it enables them to collect specific data for their teams, then make setup adjustments accordingly.

Riders are subject to timing for automatic entry into Qualifying 2 (Q2), which will be for the fastest 10 riders in the session. Those who are not in the top 10 places will go into Qualifying 1 (Q1) which gives them another shot at making it into Q2.

How MotoGP qualifying works: Q1 and Q2 format explained

Q1 and Q2 are two 15-minute sessions. In Q1 the fastest two riders will progress into Q2, then the riders who finish in third and fourth place will qualify for the Saturday Sprint and race on Sunday in 13th and 14th places respectively.

The rest of the riders on the Q1 timesheet will take their relevant places on the grid from 15th downwards.

In Q2, pole position and the other top 12 places will be decided. This is another 15-minute session where the riders will be trying to set their fastest lap possible.

Typically riders will use the softest specification of tyre available to them to push for the fastest possible lap time in qualifying, with many of them eager to time their run so they have the best conditions on track.

At the end of Q2 the rider with the fastest time takes pole position, then the riders in second and third are just behind on the grid.

The grid order rows are then determined by fourth place down to 12th over rows two to four on the grid, depending on their best lap times.

Can MotoGP riders be penalised in qualifying?

Yes, riders can incur grid penalties for a number of infractions including slow riding when waiting for a gap in the traffic.

Exceeding track limits results in a lap time cancellation if it is on the green-painted part of the track, which are designated places where they can gain time. If they run off but not onto the green, they will not be penalised.