Goiânia: MotoGP’s Brazilian venture for 2026
- Finn Glover
- 14 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Written by Finn Glover, Edited by Dhara Dave
With the arrival of Brazilian rookie Diogo Moreira in the field, it looks to be the perfect occasion for MotoGP to venture into Brazil, a country they have not visited since 2004, at Jacarepagua. After a botched return in 2022, it will finally be back in 2026.
In March, the series will make its much-anticipated return to Goiânia on a five-year contract. It is a track they raced on for 3 years, from 1987 to 1989. It is located in the heart of the country and has a historic reputation for providing scintillating racing, both on two wheels and on four.
The track
At just 2.383 miles and 11 turns, the track is relatively simple. Long sweeping bends blend into long straights and flat out kinks, and it is arguably one of, if not the most, throttle-laden tracks for MotoGP.
But it is likely that the first turn, the iconic, unforgiving ‘Curva Um’, will be remodelled for safety purposes into a heavy braking zone to provide some restbite from the relentless high speeds the riders will be experiencing. The only slight anxiety is the concern over it being completed in due course for the race which is swiftly approaching.
Modern-day MotoGP bikes have never formally raced at the circuit, so it is hard to judge as to what the racing may be like, but with similarities to Aragon, Brno and Barcelona, you can see it benefiting teams and riders who fare well at such circuits, such as Aprilia and, obviously, Ducati.
It is a very traditional, South American-style circuit, with large, grassy runoffs instead of lavishes of paint or gravel, and facilities a world away from MotoGP’s other new ventures to oil-rich avenues such as Lusail and the proposed Kazakh Grand Prix. But extensive renovations have taken place throughout the year, which will put riders' doubts at ease and bring it up to a modern standard.
Why Brazil, and what to expect?
An ever more profitable motorsport market, Brazil’s heritage is something that has never been exploited to its full potential in MotoGP, totally polar to the love for the Brazilian Grand Prix in Formula One, and the Sao Paulo E-Prix in Formula E.
With the arrival of Diogo Moreira to the grid with LCR Honda, and the dismissal of the Argentine Grand Prix at Termas, which left South America without a race, it is the perfect time to capitalise on these factors and formulate a Brazilian race. The promotional event, held in March, drew massive success and has placed a sense of excitement and buzz around the event, with tickets already selling fast. Buenos Aires will also return in 2027.
Hot and humid weather will be expected for the race held in March, with the omnipresent threat of rain or variable conditions posing an exciting challenge for riders and viewers alike. Expect conditions similar to those of the Asian leg of the championship, which, at the unpredictability of Round 2, could pose incredible action.
We can’t predict anything yet, but with the race being held so early in the season, it is likely to be close, as no team will have had an established chance to seize the momentum in the season. Once pre-season testing kicks off at the Sepang Test on February 3rd to 5th, we will have a better idea as to the favourites not only here, but for the entire season.
The return, as prior aforementioned, is prompted largely by the rising star of Brazilian motorsport, Diogo Moreira. The boy born in Sao Paulo hunted down Spain’s Manuel Gonzalez to brilliantly claim the Moto2 Championship in 2025 by 30 points, on what was seemingly a relatively midfield-worthy Italtrans bike.
Claiming just three wins, he proved consistency is key, scoring in all but four races and in just his sophomore season in the category, he proved his talent against veterans and WorldSSP 2024 champion teammate Adrian Huertas, who could only manage an eventual 21st in the riders championship.
So, what does the return to Brazil show?
Rumours have been circulating about a return to Brazil for many years in the MotoGP paddock, but the fact that it has materialised demonstrates the rising superiority of the MotoGP industry and its platform on the world stage.
After a successful stint at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina, it shows a continued commitment to an effervescent South-American market; which will be further heightened by the return to Argentina, in Buenos Aires, in 2027, meaning for the first time, there will be two races on the South-American continent.
MotoGP’s return to Brno in 2025, alongside the Brazilian venture to Goiânia, marks a positive trend for the series in not submitting itself to capitalistic, oil-rich cultures that many criticize Formula One and other series for. Rumours continue to circulate that they will venture to Shanghai in 2027, another returning favourite, particularly amidst the success of Chinese brand CF Moto in the lower series’.
The Brazilian Grand Prix kicks off for MotoGP on the weekend 20th-22nd March 2026.
