The MotoGP World Championship 2023 season will kick start with the Portuguese Grand Prix, and this season will feature a new format, which will include the sprint races, check out the schedule, rules, point system and race rules explained
Following a successful introduction in Formula 1, in recent years, the sprint races are making their way into the MotoGp in 2023.
MotoGP 2023 sprint races format and rules explained, schedule, date and venue
#MotoGP will enter a new dawn this year with the biggest format shake up for decades following the introduction of sprint races.@Lewis__Duncan previews the 2023 season ahead of this weekend’s season opener in Portugal.
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— Autosport (@autosport) March 23, 2023
With sprint races in every round of the championship from 2023, here's a look at how the MotoGP weekend will look like 👀
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) March 20, 2023
First stats of 2023 from @MotoGP & @Off_Bikes
Important sprint info… pic.twitter.com/nH2SJFDLw4— Mat Oxley (@matoxley) March 21, 2023
However, unlike the Formula One, MotoGP will hold sprint races at every Grand Prix this season.
According to GasGas Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro:
“If last year it was important to start in front in qualifying, now it’s even more important because we are going to start twice. We are going to see the top speed of all the manufacturers. The ones who adapt best are the ones who are going to win.”
MotoGP sprint race schedule
All of the sprint races are scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. local time on Saturdays of race weekends. The event will not replace the two usual qualifying sessions. In fact, the qualifying sessions will exclusively decide the grid for both the sprint as well as the Sunday races.
The two practice sessions that take place on Friday will undergo an extension from their 45-minute duration. The combined times will then determine direct access to qualifying session two. This means that racers will not have to wait until after the third free practice on Saturday morning.
MotoGP sprint race rules
The MotoGP sprint races will last approximately half the distance of the full race. As such, the top nine riders will also receive half of the points as the main races. The races will feature will be a 15-minute grid procedure. Besides that, the rules for the sprint races will be more or less the same as the full-length Grand Prix.
MotoGP sprint races points system
Given below is the points system for the MotoGP sprint races:
| Position | Points |
| 1st | 12 |
| 2nd | 9 |
| 3rd | 7 |
| 4th | 6 |
| 5th | 5 |
| 6th | 4 |
| 7th | 3 |
| 8th | 2 |
| 9th | 1 |
MotoGP 2023 schedule
The MotoGP 2023 will feature a total of 18 scheduled events, which brings in another all-time high for the calendar. Last year, the Finland GP, got cancelled due to the “geopolitical situation”. This year again, it will not take place for the same reasons.
| Date | Race | Track | Start time (ET) | Winner (Team) |
| March 24-26 | Portuguese GP | Autodromo Internacional do Algarve | TBC | TBD |
| March 31-April 2 | Argentina GP | Termas de Rio Hondo | TBC | TBD |
| April 14-16 | Americas GP | Circuit of the Americas | TBC | TBD |
| April 28-30 | Spanish GP | Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto | TBC | TBD |
| May 1 | Jerez test | Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto | TBC | TBD |
| May 12-14 | French GP | Le Mans | TBC | TBD |
| June 9-11 | Italian GP | Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello | TBC | TBD |
| June 16-18 | German GP | Sachsenring | TBC | TBD |
| June 23-25 | Dutch GP | Assen | TBC | TBD |
| July 7-9 | Kazakhstan GP | Sokol | TBC | TBD |
| August 4-6 | British GP | Silverstone | TBC | TBD |
| August 18-20 | Austrian GP | Red Bull Ring – Spielberg | TBC | TBD |
| September 1-3 | Catalan GP | Barcelona-Catalunya | TBC | TBD |
| September 8-10 | San Marino GP | Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli TBC | TBD | |
| September 11 | San Marino test | Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli | TBC | TBD |
| September 22-24 | Indian GP | Buddh | TBC | TBD |
| September 29-October 1 | Japanese GP | Mobility Resort Motegi | TBC | TBD |
| October 13-15 | Indonesian GP | Mandalika | TBC | TBD |
| October 20-22 | Australian GP | Phillip Island | TBC | TBD |
| October 27-29 | Thailand GP | Chang | TBC | TBD |
| November 10-12 | Malaysian GP | Sepang | TBC | TBD |
| November 17-19 | Qatar GP | Lusail | TBC | TBD |
| November 24-26 | Valencia GP | Circuit Ricardo Tormo | TBC | TBD |
MotoGP 2023 how to watch across different countries
| Country | TV Channel | Streaming platform |
| US | NBC and CNBC | NBC website and app. |
| Canada | REV TV | – |
| UK | ITV and BT | ITVX and the BT Sport app |
| Australia | Foxtel | Kayo Sports |
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