This weekend's season-opening MotoGP round at Qatar will also mark th𒉰e debut for a new knockout-style qualifying system.

This will work as follows:

The top 🌃ten fastest riders fro🧸m the three free practice sessions will automatically be given a place in the second and final part of qualifying (Q2).

The remaining riders will participate in the first qualifying session (Q1), where only the to🐼p two will progress to Q2.

The first 12 places on the grid will then be decided during the Q2 session. The rem🔥aining grid order will be determined by the results from Q1.

There will be a new 30-minute untimed practiꦉce session (free pract♕ice four) before the two qualifying sessions. Qualifying in the Moto3 and Moto2 classes will remain unchanged, with only a single session.

Meanwhile, the unique Qatar night race means the season-opening grand prix i꧒s held over four nights. The 2013 track schedule can be seen below:

Qatar MotoGP schedule

Thursday:
18:00-18:40 Moto3 Free Practice 1
18:55-19:40 Moto2 Free Practice 1
19:55-20:40 MotoGP Free Practice 1
20:55-21:35 Moto3 Free Practice 2
21:50-22:35 Moto2 Free Practice 2

Friday:
18:00-18:45 MotoGP Free Practice 2
19:00-19:40 Moto3 Free Practice 3
19:55-20:40 Moto2 Free Practice 3
20:55-21:40 MotoGP Free Practice 3

Saturday:
18:00-18:40 Moto3 Qualifying
18:55-19:40 Moto2 Qualifying
19:55-20:25 MotoGP Free Practice 4 - NEW for 2013
20:35-20:50 MotoGP Qualifying 1 - NEW for 2013
21:00-21:15 MotoGP Qualifying 2 - NEW for 2013
21:40-22:00 Moto3 Warm Up
22:15-22:35 Moto2 Warm Up

Sunday:
18:00-18:20 MotoGP Warm Up
19:00 Moto3 Race (18 laps)
20:20 Moto2 Race (20 laps)
22:00 MotoGP Race (22 laps)