Imagine MotoGP as a symphony, where every note counts to compose the champion's anthem. Ducati virtuoso Francesco Bagnaia strikes a new chord by suggesting the points system should be revised to include bonuses, adding exciting crescendos to the current Sprint/Grand Prix format.
With the introduction of Sprint races in 2023the MotoGP points system has taken on a new dimension, but some, like Francesco Bagnaiathink it is time to go even further. The pilot
Ducatiwho lost the title in 2024 to
Jorge Martin despite an impressive number of victories, believes that an adjustment could add spice to the championship.
Currently, a driver can score a maximum of 37
points per weekend, i.e. 25 points for a Grand Prix victory and 12 points for a Sprint victory.
This format made consistency even more crucial. In 2024,
Bagnaia won 11 Grands Prix, but his eight non-scores deprived him of the title, which he won
Martin thanks to his consistency (only three races outside the podium).
The idea of Bagnaia is to introduce bonus points to reward excellence, including one point for the fastest lap et an additional point for a Sprint/Grand Prix double.
In 2024, these adjustments would have added 11 points to Bagnaia's totalbut even with these bonuses,
Martin would have retained the title. However, this would have changed the dynamics of the championship and prompted more drivers to push harder for those bonus points.
Marc Marquez disagrees with Francesco Bagnaia
The fastest lap is an idea borrowed from the Formula 1where it was introduced in 2019, but with mixed success. In MotoGP, however, the closeness of the peloton and shorter races could make this bonus point more relevant, as it would depend more on pure pace than late tire strategies. In 2024, eight pilots different people have achieved the fastest lap in a Grand Prix, showing that this point could be accessible to a wide range of competitors.
-Any change to the points system attracts criticism, often accused of being artificial and contrary to the “spirit of MotoGP”. Marc Marqueznow teammate of
Bagnaia chez Ducatiopposes these adjustments on crash.net: “ the current system is balanced. It allows the championship to remain open until the end. »
It's true that the current format has produced two consecutive seasons of thrilling finals.
The introduction of
courses Sprint has already proven that bold adjustments can be welcomed and quickly integrated into the format. Adding bonus points for fast laps or perfect weekends could make each session more competitive, provide opportunities for non-podium drivers to access additional points and intensify strategic battles in a championship where every point counts.
Although these proposals remain under debate, they reflect a desire to innovate to keep MotoGP exciting, competitive, and relevant to its modern audience. Of course, purists will say it's artificial, a discordant note in the sport's melody. But let's remember that sprints have already shaken up this tradition, proving that innovation can become a new norm.
MotoGP is at a crossroads, where every turn can lead to a new adventure or a repeat of what has already been seen.
Bagnaia proposes to explore these new routes. The paddock is now waiting to see if these ideas will resonate with the championship decision-makers.
