2020 MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix session timings and preview

After securing his maiden MotoGP race win in last weekend's European GP, Joan Mir moved 37 points clear at the top of the riders' standings and can seal the 2020 title if he finishes on the podium in the Valencia GP.

While six riders still remain in the title hunt mathematically, Mir appeared to take a decisive step towards the world championship as he aims to become Suzuki's first world champion since Kenny Roberts Jr in 2000.

Despite a potentially decisive twist in the MotoGP title tussle, all attention has turned away from the front-runners following a busy week off-track.

On Tuesday Honda confirmed Marc Marquez will remain for the rest of 2020 to recover from his broken arm as he focuses his rehabilitation on preparing for next season.

Another rider who won't be on the grid is Andrea Iannone, albeit for a very different reason, with the Italian after losing his anti-doping appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Iannone's ban turned focus immediately to the Aprilia race seat alongside Aleix Espargaro, with Moto2 race-winner and Valentino Rossi protégé Marco Bezzecchi for the Italian manufacturer.

Andrea Dovizioso will also not be on the grid in 2021, again for an entirely different reason, as the Italian opts to next year before aiming to return to action in 2022.

2020 Valencian MotoGP session timings

MotoGP will run its traditional schedule of two free practice sessions lasting 45 minutes each on Friday, with another 45-minute practice session on Saturday morning. The top 10 on the combined FP1-2-3 timesheet will automatically enter into Q2 of qualifying. A final 30-minute FP4 session is held on Saturday afternoon ahead of qualifying.

Q1 of qualifying sees all riders who did not finish in the top 10 of the combined practice times take part with the top two finishers progressing into Q2 alongside the top 10 who gained an automatic spot via their practice times.

Q2 is the pole position shootout which decides the order of the front four rows, with the rest of the grid organised on Q1 times, for the 27-lap Valencian GP on Sunday.

Moto2 and Moto3 are also in action during the Valencian GP.

Friday 13th November 2020
Free Practice 1: 9:55am-10:40am GMT (10:55am-11:40am local)
Free Practice 2: 1:30pm-2:15pm GMT (2:30pm-3:15pm local)

Saturday 14th November 2020
Free Practice 3: 9:55am-10:40am GMT (10:55am-11:40am local)
Free Practice 4: 1:10pm-1:40pm GMT (2:10pm-2:40pm local)
Qualifying: 1:50pm-2:30pm GMT (2:50pm-3:30pm local)

Sunday 15th November 2020
Warm Up: 9:00am-9:20am GMT (10:00am-10:20am local)
Race: 1:00pm GMT (2:00pm local)

How can I watch the Valencian MotoGP?

Channel: BT Sport 2
Channel numbers - Sky: 414 (BT Sport 2)
Channel numbers - Virgin Media: 528 (BT Sport)

BT Sport's live coverage of Sunday's action starts with the warm-up sessions at 08:00am, taking it from the world feed, before switching to its own broadcast at 09:30am for the pre-race show ahead of the Moto3 race.

The build-up to the MotoGP race starts from 12:30pm, or when the Moto2 race finishes, ahead of lights out at 1:00pm.

Can I stream the Valencian MotoGP?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can also stream the Valencian GP by purchasing a video pass from MotoGP.com. A one-off video pass, which lasts until the first race of the 2021 season, costs £9.01p.

The video pass gives access to every live session, qualifying and race, plus world feed content and the chance to watch previous races.

Weather forecast for the Valencian MotoGP

Valencia is set for dry but cloudy conditions throughout the weekend, with a small chance of rain on Friday and Saturday before dry conditions on Sunday. Highs of 21 degrees Celsius are forecast on race day, making it the same conditions as the first Valencia race last weekend.

Given the seasonal conditions of the region at this time of the year, cold temperatures are also expected for the early morning sessions.

Most Valencia MotoGP winners (premier class only)

Dani Pedrosa: 4 wins (2007, 2009, 2012, 2017)
Jorge Lorenzo: 4 wins (2010, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Marc Marquez: 2 wins (2014, 2019)
Casey Stoner: 2 wins (2008, 2011)
Valentino Rossi: 2 wins (2003, 2004)