MotoGP 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix: Preview
- Silvia Cojocaru
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Written by Silvia Cojocaru, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
MotoGP returns to Brazil for the first time since 2004, dipping once again into its impressive racing heritage spanning from the famous Alex Barros to new faces such as Diogo Moreira.
This time, the grid stops by in Goiânia’s South American unknown, with valuable points up for grabs and a great opportunity for teams looking to recover after the opening round in Buriram.
Here is what you need to know before this week’s new and exciting venture!
The Brazilian Grand Prix: Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna
Located in Goiânia, the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna first opened in 1974, and it last hosted a motorcycle race in 1989, when the Brazilian Grand Prix found a new home at Interlagos. Since then, the track has hosted numerous other racing series, such as Stock Cars Brasil and the Copa Truck championship.
With a length of 2.383 miles (3.835 km) spanning 11 turns, this venue will represent a new challenge even for the most experienced riders. Honda’s Luca Marini described the track as “A fairly fast circuit, but narrow, with really slow corners, and short,” mentioning how overtaking will be difficult over the race weekend. Turn 1 marks an exception, though, with a winding right-hander after a long main straight.
The track was resurfaced and rehabilitated following the announcement of its return to the MotoGP calendar on 14 December 2024. In March 2025, some riders made a special visit to the circuit in order to complete a demo lap and promote the event, including Franco Morbidelli, Marini and home hero Moreira himself.
Past results
Although the track only hosted this competition from 1987 to 1989, Australian rider Wayne Gardner dominated the track in the 500cc category on the championship’s first visit to Goiânia. He claimed pole position, completed the fastest lap and prevailed against American riders Eddie Lawson and Randy Mamola, becoming MotoGP’s first Australian champion.
Perhaps the track’s most famous race took place in 1989, when Lawson claimed his fourth world championship in Brazil. The American rider finished second in Brazil, which was enough for him to beat fellow American Wayne Rainey to the title.
In the 250cc category, Dominique Sarron won at Goiânia both in 1987 and 1988, and Italian rider Luca Cadalora claimed gold in the track’s last year on the calendar.
Key notices
The opening round of the season left fans with several key storylines to follow. Pedro Acosta is leading the Riders’ Championship for the first time in his career, making him the first non-Ducati rider to do so since the Thailand round back in 2022.
Marco Bezzecchi also made history for Aprilia as the first rider to win three consecutive Grand Prix for the team, a record that he will be hoping to extend in Brazil. His teammate, Jorge Martín, looked to have returned to his 2024 Championship-winning form, solidifying Aprilia Racing as one of the strongest teams on the grid.
Trackhouse also enjoyed one of their best weekends in Thailand with Raúl Fernández claiming a double podium and Ai Ogura matching his best result in a Grand Prix from last year, which he also achieved in Thailand.
Ducati will certainly be ready to make a return after a disappointing experience in the opening race. The first round of the season marked the end of Ducati's 88-podium streak, setting them back to fifth in the Teams’ Championship.
Fermín Aldeguer, absent from the season opener in Thailand due to injury, will return to the garage in Brazil after a successful private test. The Spanish rider broke his leg in January, following a training accident.
Moreira, the Brazilian rookie, will also get the opportunity to race in front of his home crowd for the first time in MotoGP, approaching the weekend with cautious optimism.
Moreira commented: "It’ll be nice, in the end, there’ll be all my family and friends there, so it’ll be a nice weekend. We need to keep working and stay focused on the weekend, as I know the track a bit, so I think we can have a good weekend, but we’ll see!"
Will Acosta claim his first Grand Prix win? Will Ducati be able to recover and take the fight up to Aprilia and KTM? Find out the answer to these questions and more by tuning in to the Brazilian Grand Prix this Sunday at 11:00 local time (14.00 GMT)!
