Everything to know about MotoGP’s wet-weather race procedure as rain threatens Brazilian Grand Prix

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MotoGP has a unique set of rules in place to allow for a safe level of competition in difficult weather conditions. Here’s everything you need to know about MotoGP’s wet-weather race procedure.

The Brazilian Grand Prix is set to host MotoGP for the first time since 1992 this weekend, but the weather forecast is already threatening to scupper Marc Marquez and co’s weekend of racing.

The current forecast indicates a 65% chance of thunderstorms during FP1 and pre-qualifying practice, while the probability of rain decreases slightly to 40% on Saturday for qualifying and the Sprint race.

Grand Prix Sunday remains in question; although conditions will be partly sunny, there is still a 45% chance of rain that could play a pivotal role in the longer format race, which could see the introduction of MotoGP’s flag-to-flag rules.

What are MotoGP’s flag-to-flag rules?

MotoGP utilises its flag-to-flag rules to maintain a race’s continuity during changing weather conditions. The procedure is initiated when trackside officials wave a white flag, which signals that the track is damp enough to justify equipment changes.

Unlike traditional pit stops in Formula 1 or World Superbikes involving tyre changes, riders enter the pit lane to perform a bike swap. They physically jump from a machine fitted with slick tyres to a secondary bike that has been prepared for racing in wet weather.

The decision of swapping bikes is left to the rider’s discretion, but safety remains paramount: a 60 kph pit lane speed limit is strictly enforced under racing conditions.

For the 2026 season, officials have doubled down on unsafe release penalties to prevent collisions during the frantic mid-race swaps. If a rider is released into the path of another, they face an immediate Long Lap penalty (LLP) or time penalty.

What happens when a MotoGP race is declared wet ahead of time?

If rain has been falling on a circuit ahead of the start of a MotoGP race, officials will declare the session as wet, and the standard flag-to-flag procedures are modified to prioritise safety over mid-race transitions.

An extension of the start procedure is then granted, which gives riders additional time for sighting laps in order to evaluate grip levels. Mechanics are also permitted to make technical adjustments on the grid.

Once the race begins, it is categorised as a wet race from the outset. Unlike dry races, which can be red-flagged for rain, a pre-declared wet race will not be stopped for weather unless conditions become unrideable due to standing water or visibility.

The race distance may also be reduced by one or more laps to account for the increased mental and mechanical strain of racing in difficult conditions.

How does a wet MotoGP bike set-up differ from a dry set-up?

The most critical change involves the stiffness of a prototype’s suspension units. Teams will usually soften the front forks and rear shock to allow for more weight transfer, providing the rider with a more stable bike that offers them more mechanical grip under braking.

Brakes also see a major overhaul. While the bikes utilise carbon discs in dry races, wet setups often feature smaller carbon discs with thermal covers to ensure the brakes maintain their optimal operating temperature in the rain.

Another visible shift is the move from slicks to wet-weather tyres. These tyres feature deep grooves designed to displace standing water and prevent aquaplaning.

The rubber compounds used in rain tyres are significantly softer than dry compounds, allowing them to provide grip at much lower temperatures.

However, these tyres are prone to rapid degradation if the track surface dries, and you’ll often see riders seeking out wet patches to cool them down as they cannot dissipate the heat generated by high-speed friction on dry asphalt.

Additionally, the onboard computer is remapped. Engineers will increase traction control and wheelie control while softening the engine’s power delivery to prevent rear-wheel spin.

Finally, the bike’s geometry is often altered by raising the ride height, which increases the centre of gravity to further aid weight transfer during braking and acceleration.

What happens in Moto2 and Moto3?

In the Moto2 and Moto3 classes, the flag-to-flag bike swap used in the premier class does not exist, due to the teams in these categories being limited to one motorcycle per rider. The procedure for changing track conditions is instead handled through race interruptions or mid-race pit stops to change tyres.

If it begins to rain heavily during a dry race, officials will wave the red flag to stop the session. This allows teams to bring the bikes into the pits to change tyres and adjust the setup for wet conditions. The race is then restarted as a wet race, usually with a reduced distance.

While technically permitted under flag-to-flag rules, a mid-race pit stop in Moto2 or Moto3 is extremely rare, since mechanics must manually change the tyres on their rider’s bike.

The time lost is typically insurmountable. In most cases, if the weather shifts mid-race without a red flag, riders simply attempt to manage the conditions on the tyres they already have.