MotoGP Sprint Race delayed as sinkhole discovered in Brazilian Grand Prix track

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MotoGP had to delay the Sprint Race at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix significantly on Saturday after discovering a sinkhole on the circuit in Goiania.

Circuit staff were alerted to the issue during the MotoGP qualifying session earlier in the day. The Moto4 Latin America Cup session due to be held straight after was cancelled, while Moto2 qualifying was postponed to Sunday.

MotoGP chief Carmelo Ezpeleta watched on as crews assessed the damage to the main straight. The build-up to the race has been dominated by torrential rain, with Goiania residents even warned about flash floods.

Once the action in Goiania eventually resumed after a lengthy delay, Ducati rider Marc Marquez won the Sprint at the Brazilian GP. The seven-time champion overhauled Brazilian GP polesitter Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46 for his first win of 2026.

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It was reported during the week that a paddock access tunnel was flooded, while the first and last corners were submerged in floodwater. Concerns have also been raised about the quality of the drainage at the circuit, which last hosted a MotoGP race in 1989.

READ MORE: All you need to know about the Brazilian Grand Prix, including Goiania stats

Friday’s schedule was disrupted by the rain, but ultimately took place in full. Yet even on a dry Saturday, there appeared to be damp patches on the circuit, which may have contributed to a double-figure accident tally across MotoGP’s FP2 and qualifying sessions.

Trackhouse boss Davide Brivio was ‘very disappointed’ by the circuit’s levels of preparation, suggesting that it had damaged the image of the sport. MotoGP had not been to Brazil for over 20 years before this weekend’s race.

TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson says the Goiania track doesn’t seem ready to host such an event, revealing that toilets were still being built when teams were arriving.