Photo: MotoGP.com
2013 brought a lot of changes in MotoGP, and the way riders qualify is one of the most important. The new qualifying session is being split in two, with the fastest riders during the practice periods being given a shot for the pole position.
The procedure is pretty simple even though it doesn't seem so at the first glance: basically the 10 fastest riders in the practice get the chance to do an additional qualifying round, the Q2, for the pole and the first 4 rows on the grid.
“10 riders and 4 rows, this makes no sense”, some will say. It makes if we get the fastest two of the other remaining riders: Nicky Hayden and Aleix Espargaro did so in Qatar and filled the 11 and 12 positions on the starting grid.
According to Autosport here's some of the MotoGP riders' opinions:
Jorge Lorenzo:"It's different to last year, there are some risks and I think it's good. You have 30 minutes to work on the bike and the race pace, then you have four laps pretty much to have the best performance you can get for the grid."
Valentino Rossi: "You need to understand the way and study your strategy for being out at the right moment. Some riders start in front [go on track early] and some wait a bit. When I came into the pits for my new tires, I was 15 seconds behind Lorenzo. He goes out on his own and I go out 15 seconds later in a group of riders. And that [was] the difference [at Losail]."
The most laid back opinion comes from the master of fun, Cal Crutchlow: "I don't mind it, it's good for the spectacle and for the fans and riders. I don't care if there are 40 riders on track because there's always going to be guys getting in the way. If you make a mistake and hit them, they'll ask why."
“10 riders and 4 rows, this makes no sense”, some will say. It makes if we get the fastest two of the other remaining riders: Nicky Hayden and Aleix Espargaro did so in Qatar and filled the 11 and 12 positions on the starting grid.
According to Autosport here's some of the MotoGP riders' opinions:
Jorge Lorenzo:"It's different to last year, there are some risks and I think it's good. You have 30 minutes to work on the bike and the race pace, then you have four laps pretty much to have the best performance you can get for the grid."
Valentino Rossi: "You need to understand the way and study your strategy for being out at the right moment. Some riders start in front [go on track early] and some wait a bit. When I came into the pits for my new tires, I was 15 seconds behind Lorenzo. He goes out on his own and I go out 15 seconds later in a group of riders. And that [was] the difference [at Losail]."
The most laid back opinion comes from the master of fun, Cal Crutchlow: "I don't mind it, it's good for the spectacle and for the fans and riders. I don't care if there are 40 riders on track because there's always going to be guys getting in the way. If you make a mistake and hit them, they'll ask why."
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