The first weekend of 2023 saw the introduction of some positive new MotoGP features, not least the thrilling Sprint Race, which had us glued to our screens for twenty minutes. But also some of the events designed to bring the riders closer to the fans, at a time when such moments are very much needed - from the American-style parade with NBA inspired t-shirts, to the Sprint podium beneath the grandstands, in close contact with the crowd, and the Hero Walk complete with selfies and autographs. It all contributes to increasing the visibility of the MotoGP format (expect perhaps for the inevitable F1-style waving of the chequered flag by the VIP du jour). An estimated growth of 20-30% with respect to last year, thanks to more spectators overall, on Saturday too, live TV broadcasts and more besides.

Something went wrong at Portimao

But then there’s the flip side of the Portimao coin, heightened adrenaline perhaps caused by the added spectacle and the riders’ desire to do well in the first race of the year after almost four months away. Aspects that, together with some serious shortcomings relating to safety (less than adequate gravel and a lack of air fences through certain turns are definitely to be questioned), make up the negatives.

The riders themselves need to recognise when they’re over the top, and team managers should help them with this, because the championship runs over a year, not just one weekend. Otherwise there is a risk that, come mid-season, only half the riders will be on the grid due to all the injuries.

To prevent this, Race Direction needs to be up to the task and not scared to come down on riders with an iron fist when necessary. And it needs to be consistent in its decisions. No problem with the double long lap penalty for Marc Marquez at the next race. But before dealing with that mess, there were other riders who deserved a penalty (Marini for example). There was at least time to speak with the riders and managers, pre-emptively, to calm waters that inevitably got rough. Because Race Direction is also there to “gauge the temperature” of the paddock and the various situations created. And it must send strong messages in order to avoid having to repair the damage. It sounds obvious, but this has clearly been forgotten in MotoGP in recent years.

The Sprint Race: a welcome addition

Lastly, a comment on the Sprint race… It’s different, interesting, because it requires the riders to adopt a different mental approach. And a new way of racing. More dangerous than a normal race? What happened in last Sunday’s ‘long race’ between Marquez and Oliveira (or to Pol Espargaró on Friday) is our reply.