Editing Grand Prix motorcycle racing (section)

==Event format==
The starting grid consists of three columns and features around 20 riders. Grid positions are determined based on qualifying speeds, arranged in descending order, with the fastest rider occupying the [[Pole position|pole]]. Each race is a 45-minute sprint, completed without any fuel or tyre stops. 

In 2005, a flag-to-flag rule for MotoGP was introduced. Previously, if a race started dry and rain fell, officials could red-flag (stop) the race and either restart or resume on 'wet' tyres. Now, when rain falls, a white flag is shown, indicating that riders can pit to swap the motorcycle on which they started the race for an identical one, as long as the tyres are different (that is, intermediates or wets instead of slicks).<ref>{{cite web |title=Honda Worldwide {{!}} MotoGP 2005 Round 02: Portugal GP |url=http://world.honda.com/WGP/2005/02portugal/race/ |website=world.honda.com |access-date=11 June 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140455/http://world.honda.com/WGP/2005/02portugal/race/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Besides different tyres, the wet-weather bikes have steel brake rotors and different [[brake pads]] instead of the carbon discs and pads used on the 'dry' bikes. This is because the carbon brakes need to be very hot to function properly, and the water cools them too much. The suspension is also 'softened' up somewhat for the wet weather.

When a rider crashes, track marshals up the track from the incident wave yellow flags, prohibiting overtaking in that area; one corner farther up the track, a stationary yellow flag is shown. If a fallen rider cannot be evacuated safely from the track, the race is red-flagged. Motorcycle crashes are usually one of two types: [[lowsider|lowside]], when the bike loses either front or rear tyre grip and slides out on the "low" side, and the more dangerous [[highsider|highside]], when the tyres do not completely slide out, but instead grip the track surface, flipping the bike over to the "high side", usually catapulting the rider over the top. Increased use of [[traction control system|traction control]] has made highsides much less frequent.

[[2023 MotoGP World Championship|2023]] saw the introduction of 'Sprint' race events; these races take place on the Saturday of the race weekend with the traditional Grand Prix taking place on the Sunday. The 'Sprint' races are shorter - approximately half the length of a Grand Prix. Riders score approximately half the points in these races.<ref name="sprint-races">{{cite news |date=20 August 2022 |title=Sprint races to be introduced at all Grands Prix from 2023 |website=MotoGP.com |publisher=Dorna Sports |url=https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2022/08/20/sprint-races-to-be-introduced-at-all-grands-prix-from-2023/431993 |url-status=live |access-date=21 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820132717/https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2022/08/20/sprint-races-to-be-introduced-at-all-grands-prix-from-2023/431993 |archive-date=20 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="sprint-races2">.{{cite news |date=20 August 2022 |title=MotoGP 2023 sprint races: Everything you need to know |website=Motorsport.com |publisher=Motorsport Network |url=https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/motogp-2023-sprint-races-everything-you-need-to-know/10355471/?nrt=112 |url-status=live |access-date=23 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002110115/https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/motogp-2023-sprint-races-everything-you-need-to-know/10355471/?nrt=112 |archive-date=2 October 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Current points system - Grand Prix races
! Position
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
|-
! Points
| 25
| 20
| 16
| 13
| 11
| 10
| 9
| 8
| 7
| 6
| 5
| 4
| 3
| 2
| 1
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Current points system - Sprint races
! Position
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
|-
! Points
| 12
| 9
| 7
| 6
| 5
| 4
| 3
| 2
| 1
|}
{{See also|List of FIM World Championship points scoring systems}}

{{See also|List of Grand Prix motorcycle races}}