MotoGP Qualifying Explained

A crucial element of a race weekend, qualifying is a session which determines the grid for the sprint and main race in MotoGP.

There was a notable change in the qualifying structure ahead of the 2024 season, with one of the practice sessions offering riders the chance to skip Qualifying One (Q1) and head straight into Qualifying Two (Q2).

We look at the rules for qualifying in MotoGP.

Read more about MotoGP on site including the schedule, times and odds.

Practice sessions explained

There are three practice sessions ahead of a race:

-          Free Practice One (Friday)

-          Practice (Friday)

-          Free Practice Two (Saturday)

Free practice one, the first on track session of a race weekend on the Friday morning, is an untimed, no pressure 45 minute session which allows the riders to get valuable laps in, familiarise themselves with the circuit and key racing lines.

The second practice session, just known as ‘practice’ and hosted on the Friday afternoon, is a 60 minute timed session, in which the top 10 times qualify straight into Q2. This guarantees these 10 riders a position of 12th or better on the starting grid.

Following on from this is free practice two, another untimed session on the Saturday morning. Although this is only 30 minutes long, it is a crucial period, as it allows the riders to freshen up on a new day ahead of qualifying.

Qualifying sessions explained

Qualifying consists of two sessions.

-          Qualifying One (Saturday)

-          Qualifying Two (Saturday)

Saturday afternoon hosts Q1, where every rider except the 10 fastest from practice battle it out for a place in Q2. This 15 minute session is always incredibly tense as only the fastest two individuals make it into Q2 to complete the line-up. Anybody who goes out in Q1 will occupy positions 13th and below.

The remaining 12 riders then compete in the all-important Q2, a straight 15 minute shootout to determine positions 1-12 on the grid.

Decision behind MotoGP qualifying change

The new qualifying method was brought in after a unanimous decision from riders and teams that the format brought in for 2023 was far too intense.

The teams felt there was nowhere near enough time to turn their bikes around and set them up for a specific track before the first session on a Friday, and with so many practice and qualifying sessions it was extremely difficult to tune the bike in time for the race, or repair any damage.

The changes were a hit in 2024 and provided a greater degree of excitement across a MotoGP weekend.