Davide Brivio stands out as the MotoGP team principal with the most diverse experience, having led teams for three different manufacturers, working both within factory setups and independent teams, and even spending three years in Formula 1. In a recent interview with crash.net, Brivio, now leading Trackhouse, shared his thoughts on where MotoGP should head next.
He praised the current competitiveness of MotoGP but suggested there is room to refine the format. Specifically, he proposed separating qualifying sessions for the sprint race and the main Grand Prix race. While acknowledging scheduling challenges, he emphasized that he would prefer to adjust the weekend’s timetable rather than sacrifice the quality of racing.
At present, MotoGP uses a single qualifying session to determine the starting positions for both races, meaning a poor qualifying performance negatively impacts both sprint and main race grids, while a strong performance benefits both. This system creates extra pressure, especially since only the top 10 riders get direct entry to Qualifier 2 on Friday, with the remaining two places decided in Qualifier 1 on Saturday. External factors like yellow flags can unfairly nullify qualifying laps, ruining opportunities. Honda rider Luca Marini recently suggested increasing the number of riders advancing from Q1 from two to four to alleviate some of this pressure.
Brivio also stressed that technical regulations must align with keeping the sport entertaining, particularly with the upcoming switch to 850cc engines scheduled for 2027. Although not an engineer himself, he is committed to studying the changes closely to ensure they enhance the spectacle of MotoGP.
Brivio has a proven track record, having managed Yamaha’s World Championship-winning team with Valentino Rossi and Suzuki’s team with Joan Mir. This season, he celebrated Trackhouse’s first MotoGP victory with Raul Fernandez at Phillip Island.
Fan Take: Brivio’s insights highlight the need for innovation in MotoGP’s race weekend format, which could bring fresh excitement and fairness to the grid. His experience and thoughtful approach suggest these changes could help grow the sport’s appeal while preserving its thrilling competitiveness.
