Marco Bezzecchi
The Brazilian Grand Prix sparked huge controversy throughout the event as it returned to MotoGP in 2026. Except that was not the original plan.
Marco Bezzecchi dominated in Goiania as Aprilia grabbed a 1-2 finish with the Italian and Jorge Martin. But the Brazilian Grand Prix was marred by major issues on and off the track.
Marco Bezzecchi on top after two rounds 👀 Will he still be at the top by the end of the season, though? 🤔
Let us know in the comments below!
Flash floods on Thursday and a sinkhole on Saturday before the Sprint race built up to a huge farce on Sunday, as the race was shortened from 31 laps to 23. MotoGP cameras caught Davide Tardozzi raging at Carlos Ezpeleta, as he received the news minutes before the race was due to start.
As the race went on, the tarmac began breaking up, with stones striking the riders as they raced. Carlo Pernat slammed MotoGP for not looking ‘professional’ in Goiania, but the race was never actually meant to go ahead in 2026.
Brazilian Grand Prix organisers didn’t want to host a MotoGP race in 2026
Journalist Gavin Emmett revealed on the Paddock Pass Podcast that organisers did not want to host a MotoGP race until 2027. They wanted to test the track with a World Superbike race, but Dorna and the IRTA put pressure on the event to race in 2026.
He said: “I mean, there’s so many things wrong, you’re right absolutely. The fans proved that Brazil deserves a GP. They were fantastic, the atmosphere was fantastic, the show was fantastic.
Davide Tardozzi was FUMING over the decision to shorten the Brazilian Grand Prix!
But did MotoGP make the right call? 🤔 Let us know in the comments!
“It’s my understanding that, actually the circuit didn’t want MotoGP this year, they wanted MotoGP next year. They wanted to have World Superbikes this year to actually have a dry run, be able to practice with a lot less pressure, with a lot less of a spotlight.
“Talking about Dorna or the MSEG about what they are about, asking about progress. We know that IRTA and the FIM safety officer and a whole bunch of other people have also been at the track multiple times.
“I think they were at the track also either between the Sepang and the Buriram test or after Buriram, there’ve been lots and lots of times because they’ve been putting a lot of pressure on it.”
READ MORE: All you need to know about the Brazilian Grand Prix, including Goiania stats
Goiania’s track conditions were ‘nowhere near acceptable’ for MotoGP standards, according to insiders
Colleague Neil Morrison detailed what people at the track were saying about the conditions. The ‘general consensus’ was that they were not up to MotoGP standards.
“The fact that so many of these things happened all within five or six days just showed the event was nowhere near ready.
“Yeah the fans were there in abundance from Friday, but when we were speaking to people, our colleagues that are at the track, I think there was a very common consensus that the facilities were nowhere near acceptable for an international racing series.
“I mean, no running water in the toilets one day, I think raw sewage kind of floating around the paddock in certain parts.
“The strange site of prisoners from a local jail, they’re working and helping to do some construction and maintenance work. So yeah, you had all these kind of very strange sights, they were just quite odd.”
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