More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:

New challenge for Aprilia Racing in Brazil. Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin in Goiânia for the first time.

Aprilia Racing is ready to get back on the track for the second round of the season, this time on the renovated Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna track.

Marco Bezzecchi is headed to Brazil determined to confirm his competitiveness and the positive trend he began in Buriram, where he took pole position and the first victory of the season in the long race. On the other side of the garage, Martín will continue down the path of adapting to the RS-GP26, on which he continues to demonstrate encouraging signs after a positive weekend in Buriram, where he finished fourth in the long race.

Opened in 1974 and named for the legendary Formula 1 driver, Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna stretches out over 3,84 km and has 14 turns which combine long, fast straights with more technical sections.

Marco Bezzecchi: “I’m extremely happy to be going to Brazil and I’m curious to discover this new track. I’m sure it will be great to race in a new country and meet new fans, so I’m highly enthusiastic. We’re hoping to have a good weekend and to work well: there is no lack of motivation on the entire team’s part.”

Jorge Martin: “I’m very excited to get started on this new track and I’m confident that the work done in Thailand will give us a good base to work on in Brazil as well. We’ll need to be extremely careful to provide the right feedback, because a new track is always demanding and there will be a lot of things to get dialed in. However, I think that together with Marco’s team, we’ll be able to be competitive. I can’t wait to get to Brazil. It’s a country that I really like a lot.”

More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:

Geared up for Goiania, Honda HRC Castrol return to Brazil.

For the first time since 2004, the MotoGP World Championship will be racing in the largest country in South America, Luca Marini and Joan Mir out to hit the ground running and show off their adaptability in the face of new challenges.

The last edition of the Brazilian GP was held in 2004 in Rio de Janeiro, the race won in spectacular style by the breakout Makoto Tamada on the Honda RC211V – his first of two wins that year. Goiania itself is no stranger to hosting Grands Prix, Wayne Gardner winning his World Championship there on the Honda NSR500 back in 1987.

Luca Marini is one of only a few riders to have experienced the Autodromo Internacional de Goiania – Ayrton Senna, when he attended an event there on a Honda CBR1000RR-R a year ago. A tight layout in the infield is balanced with a fast-opening sector which should produce competitive racing. The Italian showed his skill at adapting to new circuits in Hungary last year and Marini is keen to be closer to the front throughout the entirety of the weekend. Perhaps more crucial than ever at a tight circuit such as in Goiania, entering Q2 will be the first critical objective of the weekend.

Like his teammate, some of Mir’s best results have come at new circuits in recent years – both he and the Honda RC213V able to quickly find a competitive level while others rely more on past data. It will be a weekend of redemption for the #36, out to put Thailand’s misfortunes behind him and convert his pace into results. Mir’s spectacular style is sure to give local fans something to cheer for.

The Honda HRC Castrol team now excitedly travel to Brazil, Honda’s largest two-wheel market in South America, before heading directly north for round three in Austin, Texas. 2026 is well and truly underway.

Luca Marini: “I am really looking forward to this weekend; Brazil is a country that has a lot of passion and interest for motorcycles and discovering somewhere new is a unique point of MotoGP. In 2025 I got to ride the circuit on the CBR, it was quite a tight layout and I’m looking forward to seeing how things have progressed and changed with the track since then. Our package is quite strong from the start of a weekend which will help us to be competitive, new tracks like this make everything closer and we showed in Hungary last year the level we can achieve. The Thai weekend had an acceptable end, now it’s time to make a step and get closer.”

Joan Mir: “We come to Goiania with a lot of motivation; in Thailand we were very competitive on Sunday. Getting up to speed at new circuits is something I am usually quite good at and the Honda finds a good level quickly, so I think we can be in our target zone from the start. Of course, we need to see how the circuit is and how everyone is going there but this makes the weekend more exciting! I have heard a lot about Brazil so I am looking forward to arriving in a new place.”

More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Explore New Territory in Brazil. 

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are full of motivation at the start of the Grand Prix of Brazil that is held this weekend at the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna, which makes its return to the MotoGP calendar after more than 36 years.

Fabio Quartararo: “Heading to Brazil for MotoGP’s first race here since 2004 feels really special, and I’m excited to discover everything this new track and country have to offer. The energy and the culture – I think it will give us an extra boost to continue our work. We’re ready to samba and do our best!”

Alex Rins: “It’s always a great feeling to meet a new crowd, and returning to Brazil for the first time in so many years makes this round very exciting for us: a new track and new fans. I’m looking forward to put in 100% effort again this weekend and enjoying the atmosphere in Brazil.”

More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:

Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Heads to Brazil for Historic Return.

Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads to Brazil for Round 2 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, marking the sport‘s return to the country after 22 years and to this specific circuit for the first time since 1989. The Brazilian GP also opens the Championship‘s first visit to the American continent this season, with the team set to continue its overseas campaign next week in the United States for Round 3.

Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP arrives in Goiânia for Round 2 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, as the series returns to Brazil after 22 years and to the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna for the first time since 1989. The circuit previously hosted the Brazilian Grand Prix from 1987 to 1989, has since undergone extensive modernisation ahead of its return to the calendar, with a completely reconstructed and resurfaced 3.84 km layout featuring nine right-hand corners and five left-handers, alongside fully upgraded safety features in line with current FIM and FIA standards and is now ready to welcome back the MotoGP paddock, marking a significant moment for the Championship and for Brazilian motorsport fans.

For Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, the weekend represents another important step in an ongoing process of development and understanding of the new package. With the circuit being new to all riders in the current field, the team approaches the event with a sense of curiosity and opportunity, aiming to maximise track time and continue building its knowledge base in conditions that are the same for everyone. Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu are both eager to get on track and discover the characteristics of the Goiânia circuit, while continuing the work carried out during the opening round. For Toprak in particular, it will be another chance to expand his experience on a MotoGP machine at an unfamiliar venue, while Jack will look to use his experience to help guide the ongoing development.

Weather conditions could add a further layer of complexity to the weekend, with rain forecast across all three days. Mixed conditions may play a key role in shaping track action, making adaptability and clear feedback even more crucial as the team continues its progression.

Gino Borsoi: “It‘s definitely an interesting weekend for us, first of all because we are very happy to see MotoGP return to Brazil after such a long time. It‘s an important moment for the Championship and for everyone involved.

From a technical point of view, it‘s also a unique opportunity. This is a circuit that none of the manufacturers have recent experience with, so in many ways we are all starting from the same baseline. That could give us the chance to be more competitive than we were in Thailand.

If we can find a good direction with the set-up from the very first day, we believe we can make a step forward. As always, we approach the weekend with a positive mindset and a strong determination to keep working and improving.

For the riders as well it will be a completely new challenge, as they will need to learn the track and understand all its characteristics as quickly as possible.”

Jack Miller: “I‘m really motivated to get back on track and continue the work we started. It‘s a new circuit for everyone, which makes it interesting because it gives us all a bit of a reset. We‘ve done as much homework as we can over the past weeks, but until you actually ride the track, you never really know what to expect.

The key will be to take it step by step, focus on the set-up and keep building our understanding of the bike. We also know tyre management is going to be important, especially after what we saw in the last race, so that‘s definitely something we‘ll be keeping a close eye on throughout the weekend.”

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: “I‘m really looking forward to this weekend because it‘s a completely new track, and for the first time this season everyone has to learn it from zero. That‘s something positive for me, because in the previous races I was also dealing with circuits I didn‘t know in MotoGP.

My focus is on improving my riding and feeling with the bike, corner by corner, lap by lap. Every time I go out I understand a bit more, and this is the most important thing right now. I just want to stay focused, keep learning and make another step forward together with the team.”

More from a press release issued by Pertamina Enduro VR46:

Twenty-two years after the last time, MotoGP returns to Brazil: Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team rider Franco Morbidelli will experience his first Grand Prix in his second home.

MotoGP returns to action this weekend for the second round of the season: the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team is ready to take on the Brazilian Grand Prix – the first time at the Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna – which is back on the calendar after twenty-two years (the last edition dates back to 2004). It is a very special race for all the paddock, but especially for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team rider Franco Morbidelli, who has carioca origins and will race for the first time in his second home. Expectations are high for the Tavullia-based team, which started 2026 on a positive note with both the Italian-Brazilian rider and Fabio Di Giannantonio.

After ending the Thailand GP with a positive result, Di Giannantonio is determined to get back on his Ducati Desmosedici GP to make his debut on a completely new track. Fabio arrives in Goiânia in seventh place in the World Standing with 12 points, and as the top Ducati rider in the classification.

Great excitement surrounds Morbidelli, who is set to have his Brazilian home race for the first time. The Goiânia circuit will not be entirely new to Franco: he already had the chance last year to get familiar with the track during a fan event. The Italian-Brazilian rider arrives at the Brazilian GP in ninth place in the World Standing with 8 points.

To celebrate the Goiânia race, the Tavullia-based team will wear a special capsule collection paying tribute to Brazil and marking the return to the calendar of one of the most anticipated and exciting events. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will go on track on Friday for the first free practice sessions. Qualifying will take place on Saturday, starting at 10:50 (local time, -4 CET), followed by the Sprint at 15:00 (local time). The Brazilian GP will conclude with Sunday’s race, which will start at 15:00 (local time).

FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO: “I’m sure the Goiânia weekend will be fantastic! I’m very happy that Brazil is back on the MotoGP calendar after so many years. I can’t wait to discover the track and the place in general, also because I’ve never been to Brazil. It will be a first for us, and I’m excited to experience a new culture and connect with the Brazilian people. We’re going to have a lot of fun!”

FRANCO MORBIDELLI: “The Brazilian Grand Prix will be a home race for me, and I’ll live it to the fullest! We’ll need to do a great job; we’ll arrive with huge enthusiasm and there will be a lot of energy. I already visited the Goiânia track last year: the layout is very nice and interesting, it almost feels like a stadium. It looks like a very fast circuit, we’ll have to see what it’s like on a MotoGP bike. I’ll also be lucky to have part of my mother’s family with me, who have never seen me racing, so I really can’t wait. It’s definitely one of the races I’ve been looking forward to the most in recent years; being in Brazil will be truly special!”

More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:

Samba-beating: the Ducati Lenovo Team in Goiânia for the Brazilian GP.

A grand return at the rhythm of Samba and a new entry in the 2026 MotoGP calendar: the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Brazilian GP at the Ayrton Senna Circuit in Goiânia. It’s been 22 years since a Ducati raced for the last time in Brazil, in Rio in 2004, with the legendary duo consist of Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss. Further journeying into the past, we need to go back to 1992 for the last Grand Prix hosted in Goiânia. A very short track, less than 4 km long, with numerous right-hand turns, best tackled aboard the Desmosedici GP.

Marc and Pecco, who were little more than children in 2004 but already passionate about motorcycles, return to the track after the race in Thailand. A bittersweet weekend, where they achieved less than what they had hoped. Both are preparing for these two races in a row in America—first in Brazil and then at COTA in Austin—to close the gap and be protagonists again.

Marc Márquez #93 Ducati Lenovo Team – 8th: “Brazil will be a unique GP for everyone; we don’t have any great references. I’m happy to arrive in a new country, where there are so many MotoGP fans. The track is very short, it will probably be very hot. We’ll make the most of Friday to adapt without making mistakes”.

Francesco Bagnaia #63 Ducati Lenovo Team – 10th: “There’s always a lot of curiosity before arriving at a new track. I can’t wait; the track is really small, but we’ll see the real values on Friday. It’ll be a busy day. I’m also curious to see how the fans will welcome us; they seem to be truly passionate about MotoGP”.

Circuit Information

Country: Brazil

Name: Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna

Track length: 3,83 km

Sprint race distance: 15 laps

Race distance: 31 laps

Turns: 13 (9 right, 4 left)

More from a press release issued by ELF Marc VDS:

The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team embarks on an exciting journey into the unknown this weekend when Aron Canet and Deniz Öncü compete in the first Grand Prix to be held on Brazilian soil since 2004. 

• Round two of 22 this year brings Canet and Öncü to race at the Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiania, which hosted the first Brazilian Grand Prix back in 1987
• The task of learning and adapting to the short 3.84km layout begins at 10am local time on Friday morning with Canet and Öncü set to do battle over 26 laps on Sunday afternoon at 1315pm

• Canet came away from his Elf Marc VDS Racing Team debut in Thailand earlier this month satisfied with progress made on board the new Boscoscuro machine and he’s setting his sights on a much stronger challenge in this weekend’s action in Brazil.
• Despite an unfortunate technical issue disrupting his rhythm in the opening round, the Spaniard was less than half-a-second away from the top 10 in Buriram and he’s optimistic of being much closer to the podium fight this weekend.

“It’s always fun to go to a new country and a new track and I’ve been looking forward to racing in Brazil for a long time. Finally, we get the opportunity this weekend and I’m very excited to go there. Like always when you go to a new circuit it is about who can adapt the quickest both in terms of riding style and how you set-up the bike. I feel throughout the weekend in Thailand we made good progress and I’m confident we can be much more competitive in Brazil where everybody is starting from scratch.”

• Turkish star Öncü made a brilliant return to Moto2 in Thailand when he secured a strong ninth place after injury ruled him out competitive action since last July.
• Such a positive and encouraging debut on the Boscoscuro machine has proven without doubt that once he’s fully back up to speed, Öncü is going to be a major force to be reckoned with in the ultra-competitive Moto2 World Championship.

“I’ve never been to Brazil before and it is always nice to go to a new place and race somewhere different for the first time. I’m not really going in with any expectations because everybody is starting without any previous reference. Learning the track and ensuring we work hard to find a good setting as soon as possible is going to be key. Is it more of a level playing field when nobody has ever raced at this track before? I will tell you on Sunday!”