Honda HRC Castrol rider, Luca Marini, believes the current MotoGP Qualifying format should be changed.
Luca Marini has suggested that MotoGP should reconsider its current Qualifying format, as there is a 'huge handicap' for the riders who fail to reach Q2.
Currently, the 12 Q2 positions are decided across Friday afternoon Practice and the Saturday morning Q1 session. The top ten riders from Practice on Friday automatically secure a spot in Q2 for Saturday.
However, the remaining riders outside of the top ten then have to fight it out in Q1, where there are a further two Q2 slots up for grabs for the two fastest riders.
The riders who miss out on a Q2 spot must start the Sprint Race and Grand Prix from 13th place or lower on the grid.
"With the current level, not making it into Q2 is a huge handicap," Marini told GPone.com.
"It would be nice to try to renegotiate the format with all teams and riders.
"If you get screwed by a crash or a yellow flag [cancelling your best lap], it’s a shame to throw away the entire weekend.
"Now there are two starts, and qualifying has become even more important."
Marini has suggested that MotoGP modify the Q1 session to be more like the Moto2 and Moto3 classes, where four riders are able to progress from Q1 to Q2.
"It would also be good to simply increase the number of riders who make it from Q1 to Q2, so if someone is in Q1 but has the pace to win the race, they can have more opportunities," he said.
"However, that’s how it is now and we need to get better at being in the mix right from [Friday], the problem is that starting 13th [Marini’s starting position at Sepang] requires a miracle at the first corner."
