motogp riders and team leaders gathered in Goiania for a high-stakes press build-up as the series debuts at Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna, with heavy rain and flooding complicating track preparations. The Championship top two and Brazil’s hometown hero briefed media and fans this weekend on first impressions of MotoGP’s newest circuit. The tone from the paddock mixed caution with curiosity as riders weighed surface grip, dust and overtaking prospects at a compact, high-speed layout.
Motogp track debut and conditions
The new Goiania layout will host a 31-lap main race, the longest in MotoGP since Laguna Seca was on the calendar in 2013. The circuit is notably short and fast, covered in the familiar Brazilian red soil that left the surface dusty before running began, and that dust combined with recent heavy rain and flooding to make early sessions unpredictable. Riders flagged a clearly grippy racing line but warned that off-line grip is uncertain, and that overtaking opportunities may hinge on how much traction appears away from the ideal line.
Press conference reactions
Pedro Acosta, Marco Bezzecchi and Diogo Moreira each gave first impressions in the Goiania press sessions, previewing the weekend and where they expect to find the most fun on the new layout. Bezzecchi spoke with his family in attendance and was framed as the VR46 rider primed for a special home-adjacent weekend. The 2025 Rookie of the Year confirmed a return from a pre-season leg fracture and said he was ready for his first taste of track action this year. The reigning Champion arrives after a Thai tyre mishap and is chasing a fifth victory at the circuit making its debut.
Rider commentary from earlier track walks and demo laps underscored mixed emotions. Enea Bastianini, MotoGP rider, summed up the surface visually as “completely red. ” Pecco Bagnaia, MotoGP rider, assessed: “Tarmac looks fantastic, a bit dirty but fantastic. ” Marini, MotoGP rider, noted that “the last exit of FP1 could be already a good moment to try to understand the situation. ” Raul Fernandez, MotoGP rider, sounded optimistic that varying lines could open overtaking chances.
Further voices highlighted the layout’s character: Jack Miller, MotoGP rider, called out the old-school feel of positive-camber corners, while Brad Binder, KTM rider, likened the circuit to a track at home. Jorge Martin, Aprilia rider, cautioned that modern competition means bike-track fits are not guaranteed and that adaptation by riders will be decisive.
What’s next
Teams will use free practice to judge how much racing-line grip holds and whether off-line traction improves as rubber is laid down after wet and dusty conditions. With a long 31-lap race on the card and early uncertainty about overtaking points, the last exit of FP1 and the build-up sessions will be watched closely to see who can exploit the new surface. Expect tight margins as motogp competitors calibrate tyre choices, lines and strategies ahead of the weekend’s decisive sessions.
