Claude Michy: “There is nothing worse than not evolving”

The only private promoter of the calendar, Claude Michy is at the head of the PHA company which has organized the French GP since 1994. The 2022 edition of the French event - the 29th of PHA - was a real success which resembled less than 225 over the three days.

As of 2023, the MotoGP will follow a new format with a sprint race on Saturday and the promoter of the French GP is rather for it. “I think the world is evolving,” confides Claude Michy. In general, the FIM and Dorna have never been wrong about the changes made to the MotoGP. Apparently, everyone agrees: the teams, the FIM and the manufacturers. There are certain drivers who, I think, did not have all the elements in hand to react precisely. But it is the teams who are in contract with them and not Dorna. »

🔴 What we know about the new race format #MotoGP which will include one sprint race per weekend ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/UkR2OpGakF

- CANAL + MotoGP ™ (@CanalplusMotoGP) August 20

The idea behind this new format is first of all to offer more spectacle during a weekend, but also to fill the stands on Saturday and Sunday. “For organizers who have 70% of the public on Sunday, like many, it can be interesting to bring more people on Saturday,” underlines Claude Michy. For our part, we are already at 80% on Saturday, so we are perhaps less concerned. There will be two races and therefore more emotional moments. The world is changing… there is nothing worse than not changing. Maybe in a year everyone will think it's great. When you announce a change, you never achieve unanimous support. It already exists between the FIM, the teams and manufacturers and Dorna. There is the opinion of the pilots, who are the first to be concerned, but it is one of these small developments. »

And added: “I think it’s better than a Superpole which presents a significant risk. If it rains or the track changes after three drivers, it's over. In the case of a sprint race, everyone is there. The second positive thing is that the grid is decided by qualifying. Saturday's race is a real race and no one will be in reserve to be well placed at the start of the next day's race. »

“There will be two races and therefore more emotional moments” – Claude Michy

MotoGP will have two free practice sessions on Friday which will last longer. The combined ranking of these will determine the list of drivers who will go directly to Q2 and those who will have to go through Q1. On Saturday morning, FP3 will be similar to the FP4 currently in place and this will be followed by Q1 and Q2. The sprint race will then take place at 15 p.m. The rest of the weekend program still remains to be discussed and resolved. “We have to wait for the final timings,” explains Claude Michy. I don't think it changes much in terms of the Fan Zone on Friday and Saturday. We will also have to see depending on what happens on Sunday morning, whether there will be a warm-up or not in each category. I'm not making assumptions, I'm waiting for the schedule which will be the same everywhere. »

We will know very soon the format of a Grand Prix weekend starting in 2023. One thing is certain, Claude Michy and PHA welcome with open arms this new format for the 2023 French GP which should take place in mid-May.