Circuit Notebook: How MotoGP Sets Its Grid Across Two Knockout Sessions

Friday Cutoffs and the Initial Split

A Grand Prix weekend begins sorting the field well before Saturday morning. In the modern format, Friday afternoon hosts a critical 60-minute Practice session following the morning's Free Practice 1. The 10 fastest riders at the end of that Friday afternoon session gain automatic advancement straight into the pole shootout. Everyone outside that top 10 is relegated to the opening knockout round.

On Saturday, riders run a 30-minute Free Practice 2 to finalize setups before competitive timed runs begin. Understanding how MotoGP Q1 and Q2 qualifying work requires looking at this progression: the first knockout phase, Q1, gives those remaining riders 15 minutes to secure one of only two promotion berths. Third place in Q1 is assigned 13th on the grid, fourth takes 14th, and the remaining order fills out the lower rows.

The 12-Rider Shootout and Weekend Grid Impact

Qualifying 2 gathers the 10 automatic qualifiers alongside the two transfers from Q1 for another 15-minute contest. The single fastest lap time sets pole position, while the rest of the 12 participants form the first four rows of three bikes each. Advancing through Q1 to take pole is difficult, though riders such as Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin have each managed it twice.

Since 2023, the qualifying order governs starting spots for both the Saturday Sprint and the Sunday Grand Prix, meaning Sprint finishing positions do not alter Sunday's launch spots. Pushing for lap times also carries strict track regulations: straying onto designated green painted runoff cancels an individual lap time, as occurred to Marc Marquez at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, while cruising slowly on the racing line can trigger steward-issued grid demotions.

Official reference: How Does MotoGP™ Qualifying Work? – The Complete Guide.