Opinion: MotoGP's new sprint hope for 2023 is a big gamble

At last weekend’s Austrian MotoGP, one of the biggest changes ever made in the history of the sport was announced.

From 2023 MotoGP weekends will, for the first time ever, feature not one but two races, with the introduction of a new sprint race.

Taking the place of one of the four practice sessions currently held over a weekend, the new sprint race will be held on Saturday, taking up half the distance, and half the points, of the main GP race held on the Sunday.

The introduction of the sprint race appears to have been brought about in an attempt by organisers Dorna to add an extra level of excitement and intrigue, in a bid to combat dwindling television figures and track-side attendances for the series.

In some ways, this will certainly do that. Taking out a practice session and bringing in another race over the course of the weekend, means adding in more competitive and meaningful action, more likely delivering the drama that people want from the sport.

Indeed, the reduced length of the sprint races, means there is less time for riders to make their decisive move, meaning they will have to do so more quickly in search of those all-important points, adding to the pressure and tension that draws many people into a sporting event.

But while that means the addition of sprint races should work in terms of adding excitement to the series, whether it will be enough to bring more viewers and spectators to the series, is arguably another issue altogether.

Looking at the attendance figures for the British MotoGP at Silverstone earlier this month, it is easy to see why Dorna are so desperate to bring fans back to the series.

In 2021, as the circuit reopened its gates to MotoGP fans after a year away due to the pandemic, 67,000