Marc Marquez admits riders are powerless over controversial MotoGP rule change
Marquez isn't happy with the latest rule change (Photo: Race Pictures)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Marc Marquez may be the biggest name in MotoGP, but even he’s admitted he doesn’t have any power over the new schedule.
The sport announced a new weekend format for 2027, which introduces two qualifying sessions, adding more competitive racing during Friday’s running.
Previously, qualifying set the grid for Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix, but now sprint qualifying will take place on Friday.
The announcement has divided the grid, and the most powerful voice on it admitted he wasn’t a fan.
In fact, nine-time champion Marquez expressed some frustration with MotoGP’s governance.
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Marquez criticises MotoGP over controversial rule change
Speaking to the media at the Indonesian Grand Prix, he said: "The teams and the organisation decide, either you accept or you leave. That's how it is…
"It's interesting to understand the task. This format was already sufficient, but we can't decide and we'll adapt."
Marquez was then asked about Pedro Acosta’s comments that the change will shorten riders’ careers, and simply replied: “I agree.”
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The teams and the organisation decide, either you accept or you leave. That's how it is…- Marc Marquez
Acosta will be Marquez’s teammate at Ducati next year, and is already winning over fans with his outspoken takes on the sport.
In his latest, regarding the schedule, he certainly didn’t hold back.
Acosta warns of greater injury risks in MotoGP
Speaking in a media session, the Spanish KTM rider said: “I like the format we have now; it works quite well, and I would have agreed if they had used the current pre-qualifying for the Sprint race grid.
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“With the new format, we won't even be able to make the tyres last the entire race during free practice.
“The most dangerous sessions should be eliminated, not more added. There are some very boring Sprint races, for example, at Sachsenring, where we can't overtake.
“I think holding Sprint races at half of the Grands Prix would be acceptable and would make them more interesting. If we continue like this, the riders' careers will be shortened.”
Acosta has spoken out in strong terms (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
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Acosta also feels unheard
Foreshadowing Marquez’s comments, he added: “It doesn’t matter what we think, because we can’t choose anyway.
“It’s going to be a really tough year. You know the stress a MotoGP rider goes through during the weekend.
“There are already many sessions where we have to take risks, like pre-qualifying, qualifying, sprint races, and the main race.
“We have 22 Grands Prix and 44 races, and I don’t know if it’s best to hold qualifying for the sprint race on Friday with 22 riders on track, and the same for Q1 on Saturday.
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"I'm not happy, but we have no other option. We don't even have time during the weekend to sit down and talk it over amongst ourselves, the drivers.
“We're already taking a big risk; we don't drive cars, and we should take that into account. It's impossible to compete in five races [timed sessions] where you're taking risks every weekend and not get injured."
If we continue like this, the riders' careers will be shortened.- Pedro Acosta
Acosta then went on to point out a middle ground that he’d find more agreeable.
“We'll be under a lot of stress on many occasions,” he added: “I'd understand a format like this if we only ran sprint races in half of the Grands Prix.
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“If you look at the list of riders, there aren't many who haven't been injured during the season, and I think this is going to get worse.
“There won't be a warm-up session, which was the opportunity to check that the bike was working properly after a crash on Saturday."
Bezzecchi welcomes new qualifying format
Despite Marquez and Acosta’s complaints, many were also in favour of the new format.
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One of them was Aprilia title challenger Marco Bezzecchi, who explained: "I like it quite a bit; it will be physically tough, but I'm curious to see how it will be.
“It's nice to have two different qualifying sessions. This way, you don't risk destroying two races with the same qualifying session."
MotoGP weekend format breakdown
| Friday | |
| FP1 | 45 minutes |
| FP2 | 30 minutes |
| Sprint Qualifying | 15 minutes |
| Saturday | |
| FP3 | 20 minutes |
| Q1 | 15 minutes |
| Q2 | 15 minutes |
| Sprint | - |
| Sunday | |
| MotoGP race | *with pit lane being open for 10 minutes to allow for multiple sighting laps |
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