Goiânia, Brazil – The MotoGP Tissot Sprint race at the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna has been delayed Saturday due to damage discovered on the track surface. This marks the return of MotoGP to Brazil after a 22-year hiatus, with the event taking place at the historic Goiânia circuit for the first time since 1989, following extensive resurfacing and upgrades to meet international standards, as reported by MotoGP.com.
The issue, a hole on the front straight away from the racing line, was identified shortly after qualifying for the premier class. Initial delays were set at 20 minutes, pushing the start time to 15:20 local time. However, further inspection led to subsequent postponements, first to 15:35 and then to 16:00, as track crews worked to repair the damage. The delays come after a rain-affected Friday, where the Moto3 FP1 session was delayed by an hour, limiting dry track time until FP2 on Saturday morning.
The disruption to the schedule has prompted adjustments to qualifying for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes. Moto2 qualifying has been moved to Sunday morning, preceding the MotoGP Warm Up, with Q1 now scheduled to begin at 09:40 local time. Moto3 qualifying remains scheduled for Saturday, with Q1 set to start at 17:10 local time. A statement released by MotoGP at 17:00 GMT indicated the Sprint race is “expected to begin slightly later than scheduled, with an anticipated delay of around 20 minutes,” and that a revised schedule would be issued shortly.
Qualifying Results Set the Stage for Sunday’s Races
Despite the disruptions, qualifying sessions were completed earlier Saturday, with Fabio Di Giannantonio securing his second career MotoGP pole position. The Italian rider topped the timesheets despite a late crash in Q2. Marco Bezzecchi, rebounding from a disappointing 20th-place finish on Friday, qualified in second, while veteran rider Marc Marquez secured third place. Visordown reports that Fabio Quartararo also delivered a strong performance, finishing fourth in Q2 on his V4 Yamaha. Championship leader Pedro Acosta experienced a crash during Q2 but will start Sunday’s races from ninth position.
The Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna previously hosted the Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix from 1987 to 1989, and again in 2026, after a period of absence due to organizational and safety concerns, as detailed in Wikipedia. The 1992 race was held at the Interlagos Circuit in São Paulo, but proved unpopular with riders due to track conditions.
Previous Brazilian Grand Prix History
The return of MotoGP to Brazil evokes memories of past races, including the 1999 Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix, a thrilling battle between Norick Abe, Max Biaggi, and Kenny Roberts Jr., with Abe ultimately taking victory by a mere 0.161 seconds. The 2000 Rio de Janeiro GP saw Kenny Roberts Jr. Crowned World Champion, with Valentino Rossi securing the race win and local favorite Alex Barros finishing on the podium, according to MotoGP.com. The Rio Grand Prix ran from 1995 to 2004, with the 2004 event held at Jacarepagua, Rio de Janeiro, as documented by the Motorsport Magazine database.
The ongoing repairs and schedule adjustments underscore the challenges of returning to a circuit that has undergone significant updates. The focus now shifts to ensuring a safe and competitive racing surface for the remainder of the weekend. Fans and teams alike await the revised schedule and hope for a smooth continuation of the Brazilian MotoGP event.
What comes next is the completion of qualifying for Moto3 and the eventual start of the Tissot Sprint race, followed by the main race on Sunday. The successful resolution of the track issue will be crucial for ensuring a positive experience for all involved in this long-awaited return of MotoGP to Brazil.
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