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 because the introduction of the four-stroke period, with 25 factors supplied for a grand prix victory on a sliding scale down to at least one to cowl the highest 15 positions.
When dash races have been launched in 2023, an extra 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 at least one for ninth.
With 37 factors accessible per weekend now, the necessity for consistency has change into much more important in a rider’s hopes to win the championship.
In 2024, Bagnaia received 11 grands prix however eight non-scores meant he nonetheless misplaced out by 10 factors to Jorge Martin. The Pramac rider solely received three Sunday races, however consistency was important for Martin as he achieved podiums in all however three sprints.
“You need to adapt to what the foundations are, additionally as a result of the system now we have proper now allowed me to struggle for the title till the top, even when I did eight zeros,” Bagnaia mentioned final yr 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 actually modified quite a bit the best way of scoring factors in a weekend.
“You need to 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 System 1 has had an identical system in place since 2019, although just for drivers inside the highest 10. The concept behind this was to inject a bit of bit of pleasure and incentivise drivers additional right down to push for a doubtlessly essential further level.
Nevertheless it by no means actually had that impact, with the purpose typically going to a driver with a lot hole in entrance and behind them that they might pit safely on the penultimate lap for a recent tender 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 subject unfold isn’t as huge as F1. The closeness of the sphere by way of 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 might have lifted Acosta into sixth equal on factors with team-mate Brad Binder, however taking the place by advantage of his better podium haul.
There’s an argument to be made that the very considered an additional level adjustments the dynamic of any racing scenario fully. A rider is extra more likely to rejoin a race after a light-weight 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 outdoors of the details scoring locations too.
Bagnaia’s ideas weren’t shared by his incoming Ducati team-mate Marc Marquez, who mentioned: “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 right down to the wire for the previous two years. However MotoGP may additionally look to British Superbikes for a enjoyable method of constructing a giant 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 may win £50,000 for scoring victories in all six races. Whereas that might be excessive for MotoGP, the collection may toy with an identical concept.
If a rider completes a dash/race double in addition to getting the quickest lap in a grand prix, they might achieve three extra factors to their haul – convey the potential weekend whole as much as 40. If they’ll’t try this treble, they get nothing.
The motivation for each session is heightened by this, whereas a rider whose major championship rival is about to attain this treble will maybe push a bit tougher to grab quickest lap away and cease the opposite from gaining three essential factors.
Purists will all the time argue towards any form 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 may be made and it shortly change into a part of the furnishings.
