[kropotkin thinks...] - Jerez MotoGP Saturday Sprint Notes: Why Riders Crashed, Why T

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Jerez MotoGP Saturday Sprint Notes: Why Riders Crashed, Why Tire Penalties Returned, And Why We Are Underestimating The Winner

The sprint races were added to the MotoGP schedule to give the fans something extra to look forward to on Saturday, to help circuits by filling the stands. And judging by the packed grandstands at Jerez, it's working rather well. Half distance races are intense and exciting and add an extra dimension to MotoGP.

There are downsides, of course. The additional pressure, the lack of setup time, the increased importance of grid position. But in the second year of the new schedule, the chaos of the sprint races seems to have subsided. The teams and riders have got a grip on things and are managing much better than at the start last year.

Until today, that is. The sprint race at Jerez created carnage, a wild ride which saw 15 of the 25 riders on the grid crash, five tire pressure penalties handed out, a podium spot change hands, and a classic Marc Marquez performance. In every sense of that phrase.

I'm not sure you can blame the sprint race format for the chaos at Jerez, however. Saturday's surprises were down to the weather, to the asphalt, and to keeping a level head while those around you lose theirs.


David EmmettSun, 28/Apr/2024 - 00:09

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