MotoGP organiser Dorna has signed a deal to revive its Brazilian Grand Prix by taking the championship back to the Goiania International Racetrack Ayrton Senna.
A March 2026 date has been earmarked for what would be the series’ first Brazilian GP in 34 years and its first time at Goiania since Kevin Schwantz’s 1992 victory.
The five-year contract was announced on Thursday by Goias state governor Ronaldo Caiado and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. Brasil Motorsport, organiser of Formula 1’s Brazilian GP at Interlagos, will also be involved.
"We are very much looking forward to returning to Brazil,” said Ezpeleta.
“We have a good fanbase who we know are excited about this news, just as we’re eager to return to race for them again, and this new agreement also offers a fantastic opportunity to expand in a key market for the sport and our manufacturers.
“Brazil is a global player and somewhere we have always believed deserves a space on our calendar. Working with the government of Goiás and Brasil Motorsport, who have an impressive and proven track record, is an opportunity we are very excited to take."
In its 500cc era the championship raced at the central Brazilian circuit from 1987 to 1989, with Schwantz, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Gardner the race winners.
The venue enjoyed a positive reputation for its atmosphere and track layout at the time despite its short tenure on the calendar.
MotoGP’s Brazilian GP project should be helped by the rising success of 2023 Moto3 title contender and 2024 Moto2 rookie of the year Diogo Moreira, who should be set to receive a huge home response if he can make it to MotoGP by the time that the race comes around.
South America offers MotoGP a large and passionate fanbase - one that didn’t get a race in 2024 due to the late cancellation of the Argentinian GP at Termas de Rio Hondo.
It’s scheduled to return to the calendar in 2025, though whether it actually does remains to be seen amid economic instability and aggressive policies from controversial new president Javier Milei.
The Goiania circuit needs a considerable amount of work to bring it up to MotoGP standards, both to its facilities and to the track’s safety features.
And given the long list of proposed new MotoGP races that didn’t ever come to fruition - despite contracts being signed - because the circuits were neither physically or financially ready, there will undoubtedly be question marks about whether the Brazilian race will actually happen.
It’s also not the first time that MotoGP has tried in recent years to return to Brazil. It announced a similar five-year deal in 2019 to hold a race at a new circuit in Rio de Janeiro, the Rio Motorsports Park.
That project was canned in 2021 without construction ever getting underway.
