MotoGPs sprint format has paid off as audiences soar, says Dorna chief

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MotoGP - Argentina Grand Prix - Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo, Santiago del Estero, Argentina - March 16, 2025 Leopard Racings David Almansa in action during the Moto3 REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Dec 18 - MotoGPs sprint format is no longer an experiment but its Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta knows it remains one of the championships most contentious talking points, even as TV audiences soared this season to watch the shorter format.

Introduced in the 2023 season, the half-length races have turbo-charged television audiences with a viewership increase of 26% on Saturdays while overall TV ‍audiences are up ​9%, according to figures published by MotoGP.

Moreover, the 22-round season brought 3.6 million fans to race tracks, breaking nine ‍attendance records as MotoGP celebrated one of its most memorable seasons yet when Ducatis Marc Marquez returned to the summit with his seventh crown.

To the outsider, it looks like a win-win: more races, more ​viewers, more money. ​To the riders, however, 22 Grand Prix races and 22 sprints is a different proposition that results in a much heavier workload.

Formula One has sprint races only at select circuits and no more than six a season, but Ezpeleta left little room for ambiguity about its future as MotoGP tries to strike a balance between sporting tradition and ‍accessibility for new audiences.

We think having the same format every weekend is really crucial to our sport, especially in a phase where were so focused on capturing new fans, ​Ezpeleta