JORGE MARTÍNEZ URGES MOTOGP RIDERS AND ORGANISERS TO TALK

MotoGP’s planned 2027 weekend format and new rules requiring riders to attend promotional events have sparked debate over how much say riders have in decisions that affect their workload. Former rider and four-time world champion Jorge Martinez, now head of the Aspar team, says he understands both sides and believes the dispute can be resolved through closer discussion.

The revised schedule, announced before the Indonesian Grand Prix, will add a dedicated sprint qualifying session on Friday afternoon and remove Sunday morning warm-up. In total, riders will spend 35 fewer minutes on track over a race weekend, while the format will include more qualifying and is intended to increase the spectacle. Separately, teams were told in Australia that riders who miss required promotional appearances could face penalties, including suspension from practice sessions or grid-place sanctions.

Asked whether riders had been consulted about the changes, Martinez said they had been, “if only superficially.” He noted that the new programme had been developed with teams and manufacturers, but stressed that the sport has changed considerably over the past two decades. Riders today are better prepared physically, he said, but know less about mechanics and are mentally weaker than earlier generations. With qualifying, sprint races, the main race and promotional demands all part of the show, mental readiness has become increasingly important.

Martinez pointed to Marc Marquez as an example of a rider whose mental strength is a major asset. He described that quality as one of the biggest challenges facing younger generations.

At the same time, Martinez urged organisers to account for the risks riders take and the consequences of injury. MotoGP cannot replace an injured rider as readily as Formula 1 can, he said: a substitute in motorcycle racing is often far behind the leading riders. For that reason, he argued, Liberty Media, teams, manufacturers and riders need to work together.

Martinez said a solution would benefit everyone, but would need to balance the championship’s commercial ambitions with riders’ need for time to switch off and rest. He acknowledged that sponsorship and television provide the sport’s income, while adding that some demands could be adjusted. His conclusion was simple: “They should probably talk to each other more.”