MotoGP set to shorten seven races in 2018

This decision has been taken following the suggestions of some riders in the Safety Commission, who have been discussing which race distances were too long.

Nine Moto2 races and seven Moto3 races will also be reduced in length in order to make scheduling easier for race organisers.

On the MotoGP side, the seven rounds losing laps will be Austin, Jerez, Le Mans, Barcelona, Brno, Misano and Valencia. Most will be reduced by just one lap, although Jerez will lose two and Valencia three.

This reorganisation takes place a year before the arrival of the FIM Moto-e World Cup for electric bikes. Its calendar will include between four and six rounds, all of them in Europe.

The new championship will make Sunday schedules even more packed as it is expected that these races (most of which will be eight laps) will take place before the start of MotoGP at 1400 local time.

Translation by Irene Aneas

Revised MotoGP race distances:

Race	2017 distance	2018 distance
Austin	21 laps	20 laps
Jerez	27 laps	25 laps
Le Mans	28 laps	27 laps
Barcelona	25 laps	24 laps
Brno	22 laps	21 laps
Misano	28 laps	27 laps
Valencia	30 laps	27 laps

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