Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia believes MotoGP ought to look into adjusting the factors system to incorporate bonuses underneath the present dash/grand prix format.
MotoGP’s factors system has remained static for the reason that introduction of the four-stroke period, with 25 factors supplied for a grand prix victory on a sliding scale down to 1 to cowl the highest 15 positions.
When dash races have been launched in 2023, a further 12 factors have been added to the utmost take dwelling from every grand prix weekend: 12 for a win, 9 for second, seven for third on a sliding scale to 1 for ninth.
With 37 factors obtainable per weekend now, the necessity for consistency has turn into much more very important in a rider’s hopes to win the championship.
In 2024, Bagnaia gained 11 grands prix however eight non-scores meant he nonetheless misplaced out by 10 factors to Jorge Martin. The Pramac rider solely gained three Sunday races, however consistency was very important for Martin as he achieved podiums in all however three sprints.
“You must adapt to what the foundations are, additionally as a result of the system we’ve got proper now allowed me to struggle for the title till the top, even when I did eight zeros,” Bagnaia stated final 12 months at Ducati’s Campioni in Pista occasion.
“Nevertheless, dash races have an effect on a number of fronts, in order that’s one thing further. It has definitely modified quite a bit the way in which of scoring factors in a weekend.
“You must get used to it. Though with the introduction of dash races, they need to contemplate incorporating some bonuses, maybe for profitable each races or for the quickest lap.”
In 2024, Bagnaia did 5 dash/grand prix doubles. Assume a bonus level for every, that places him 5 factors nearer to Martin within the championship. Six GP quickest laps provides six extra to his tally – although two quickest lap factors for Martin throughout the season nonetheless wins him the championship, as does one dash/GP double.
Factors for quickest laps is one thing Components 1 has had an analogous system in place since 2019, although just for drivers inside the highest 10. The concept behind this was to inject a bit bit of pleasure and incentivise drivers additional all the way down to push for a doubtlessly vital further level.
Nevertheless it by no means actually had that impact, with the purpose usually going to a driver with a lot hole in entrance and behind them that they may pit safely on the penultimate lap for a contemporary mushy tyre and push for quickest lap.
This rule is being scrapped for the 2025 season.
In MotoGP, some extent for quickest lap would really work extra how F1 envisaged its would. Shorter races means discipline unfold isn’t as huge as F1. The closeness of the sphere when it comes to aggressive equipment would additionally give extra riders an opportunity at gaining some extent and have it selected pure tempo quite than race circumstance.
Francesco Bagnaia
CAN A MOTOGP RULE CHANGE WORK?
In 2024, eight totally different riders managed to set the quickest lap in a grand prix. Pedro Acosta set two; Bagnaia six; Martin two; Enea Bastianini three; Maverick Vinales, Aleix Espargaro and Fabio Di Giannantonio one; Marc Marquez 4.
Whereas this wouldn’t have considerably altered the result of the championship, it will have lifted Acosta into sixth equal on factors with team-mate Brad Binder, however taking the place by advantage of his larger podium haul.
There may be an argument to be made that the very considered an additional level adjustments the dynamic of any racing scenario utterly. A rider is extra prone to rejoin a race after a lightweight crash in the event that they know they’ll come away with two factors for ending fifteenth as a substitute of only one. If the quickest lap level was to be utilized to sprints, there could also be extra pleasure exterior of the details scoring locations too.
Bagnaia’s ideas weren’t shared by his incoming Ducati team-mate Marc Marquez, who stated: “For me, it is fantastic as it’s now. The system is balanced, as a result of it permits the championship to stay open till the top, so I am proud of how it’s now.”
Marquez’s remark isn’t unfaithful. The present format has seen the championship go all the way down to the wire for the previous two years. However MotoGP might additionally look to British Superbikes for a enjoyable method of constructing an enormous deal out of a rider doing a clear sweep of a weekend.
Lately, BSB ran a Spring Grand Slam contest unfold over two rounds the place a rider might win £50,000 for scoring victories in all six races. Whereas that might be excessive for MotoGP, the collection might toy with an analogous thought.
If a rider completes a dash/race double in addition to getting the quickest lap in a grand prix, they may achieve three further factors to their haul – deliver the potential weekend whole as much as 40. If they’ll’t do this treble, they get nothing.
The motivation for each session is heightened by this, whereas a rider whose important championship rival is about to realize this treble will maybe push a bit more durable to grab quickest lap away and cease the opposite from gaining three essential factors.
Purists will at all times argue towards any sort of change like this, branding it synthetic and ‘not within the spirit of MotoGP’. However the introduction of sprints has largely busted this notion, proving {that a} main format change could be made and it shortly turn into a part of the furnishings.
