Podcast: Could Brazil MotoGP track disaster have been avoided?

MotoGP’s first race in Brazil in over 20 years was overshadowed by the numerous track issues that plagued the Goiania circuit across the weekend.

The long-awaited return of the Brazilian Grand Prix came 22 years after the last Rio Grand Prix was held.

The Ayrton Senna circuit in Goiania last hosted MotoGP in 1989, and underwent a massive overhaul to bring it up to standard for the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.

However, problems plagued the track throughout the event, with extreme flooding earlier in the week leaving parts of it underwater.

Practice was delayed by an hour due to more saturation on the circuit, before Saturday’s sprint schedule was threatened with cancellation after a sinkhole appeared on the pit straight.

A quick repair job was made and the sprint ran, but there were more problems on the Sunday when the track began to break apart at Turn 12.

Race direction announced just moments before lights out a sudden change to the race length, reducing it from 31 laps to 23.

The situation has led to questions about the robustness of the FIM’s homologation process for new circuits.

On the latest Crash MotoGP Podcast, host Dre Harrison is joined by Lewis Duncan and Peter McLaren to discuss the Brazil weekend and the problems experienced at the track.

They also dive into Aprilia’s dominant grand prix and look at whether or not Ducati really is in trouble as it looks to defend its title.

Elsewhere, rider market rumblings involving VR46 and Fermin Aldeguer emerged during the Brazil weekend.

The team discuss these and what it could mean for Gresini for the 2027 season.