Introduced at the start of the 2023 season, the Sprint weekend format has revolutionised the stages of a season MotoGP, by doubling the number of events in which points are available.
In 2023, the Saturday event was met with many skeptics. Some complained in particular about an overload of work for the teams. The drivers were worried about the increase in the number of injuries due to the fatigue caused by the addition of this event to each round of the World Championship.
Others, on the contrary, have adapted rather well, like Jorge Martin, who has truly established himself as the king of the Sprint since his arrival. In 2023, the Spaniard has won nine of the nineteen Sprints organized. The Australian GP having been canceled. The second most victorious driver on Saturday was his championship rival, Pecco Bagnaia, with four achievements.
This year, the Sprint is much less criticized than in the past, and presents itself as a real actor in the fight for the championship. It allows the n°89 to record 104 points (against 58 for Bagnaia) before the Grand Prix of San Marino. Without it, the n°1 would lead the dance in the Drivers' standings, with a score of 218 points, against 195 for the Iberian.
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More competitive sprints?
In addition to being less criticized, the drivers seem to have adapted better to the Sprint format, since the latter could also be more competitive if the diversity of winners continues to evolve in this way. In total, 6 drivers tasted victory in Sprint last year. A figure already equaled this year after only twelve rounds.
Thirteen riders rode the wheel on Saturday last year. A figure that remains to be matched this year, since there are currently nine riders who have done so. Each manufacturer also won at least one medal in the twenty events. Honda and Yamaha have not yet done so this year. As a reminder, the Iwata factory would have done so without the penalty imposed on fabio quartararo after arriving in Jerez.
In addition to the two main contenders for the world crown, Martin and Bagnaia, each of Marc Marquez, Maverick Viñales, Enea Bastianini and Aleix Espargaro have already won a Sprint in 2024. A figure that can only increase when we know that there are eight rounds left to contest this season. And this on circuits with very different characteristics.
Apart from the drivers already mentioned, Marco Bezzecchi (VR46), Alex Márquez (Gresini Racing), and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) have already won the gold medal awarded to the winner. So many names that could contribute to increasing the number of different riders to win on Saturdays this season.
Pedro Acosta also appears as a serious candidate for victory on Saturday. The 20-year-old driver already has four podiums in Sprint.
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