MotoGP, Bautista: “The sprint race? The risks depend on the riders, not the format. ”

The aggressiveness of the riders was at the center of discussions after the start of the MotoGP season, during which five riders end up in the infirmary in just two races. Joan Mir in Argentina was added to the list of injured riders that include Pol Espargaró, Enea Bastianini, Marc Marquez, and Miguel Oliveira in Portugal. Joan was forced to give up on the Termas de Rio Hondo GP after a fall during the Sprint Race. 

The new championship format ended up in the whirlwind, but how actually important is the fast race for the new situation in the queen class? Very little, according to Alvaro Bautista, who explained his point of view to our colleagues at Motorsport.com. “I don’t see the sprint races as being dangerous. Another thing is how every rider manages them. The risk and danger depend on the riders, not the race or the format,” the Spanish rider said, pleasantly impressed by the new MotoGP weekend program. 

“I like it a lot more than the old one. What I like most are the races, not the tests, where they only do laps. Personally, I think it was a positive change, because it generates a lot more attention from the public. It’s also a challenge for the riders, because you have to be very focused and make fewer mistakes, since it’s more difficult to recuperate,” added the SKB Ducati rider added, convinced that the riders only need a bit time to get used to the race on Saturday.

“They were used to racing differently, but it’s like when they split the qualifications into the Q1 and Q2. There was a lot of talk about it before. Now, no one questions this format. They’re all changes in favor of the show,” Bautista said, explaining why he believes his teammates in the world championship should focus more on qualifying than on their impetus in the race.

“It’s something new for them, and when they hear talk about the sprint, the first thing that comes to mind is to go all out from the first the very start. When they see how it works, and how they have to manage it, the aggressiveness will decrease,” The Ducati rider observed. “If you start tenth, or you’re halfway through the grid at the first corner, you don’t have many options. More than aggression, it’s the grid position that counts.”