Welcome to Brazil! It’s been some 22 years since we last visited this vibrant South American country and since then, it’s hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2016 Summer Olympics, celebrated two runners-up in Formula 1 and as of November 16th, 2025, a first-ever MotoGP World Champion with Diogo Moreira lifting the Moto2™ crown. MotoGP is back in a country that has a deep connection with the most exciting sport on Earth and with more history to be made in 2026, it feels good to be coming back.
BRAZIL FAST FACTS: a passionate fan base welcomes MotoGP!
The most populous country in South America, Brazil’s 200 million inhabitants account for nearly 50% of the continent’s entire population. We’ll be racing in Goiania at the Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna, with the city itself the state capital for the State of Goias. Just over 200km from the country’s capital Brasilia, Goiania is the 11th-most populated city in Brazil and has a long connection with MotoGP from nearly 40 years ago…
DESTINATION GOIANIA: MotoGP’s Samba starts – and started – here
It was back in late September, 1987, when MotoGP got its first taste of Brazil when we went to the State of Goias’ capital for a back-to-back South American finish to the season with Argentina the final round. Wayne Gardner was victorious and became Australia’s first-ever MotoGP World Champion on our first visit; we’d continue at Goiania until 1989 before switching to the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace – otherwise known as Interlagos – in the country’s biggest city of Sao Paulo (home of Diogo Moreira) for one-time only in 1992.
BRAZIL’S RICH HISTORY CONTINUES: next up, the beaches of Rio de Janeiro
From 1995 to 2004, it was Brazil’s party capital of Rio de Janiero that hosted MotoGP action at the Jacarepagua circuit. Valentino Rossi dominated from 2000 to 2003 winning four GPs in a row – as well as clinching the first-ever MotoGP-era title there in 2002. However, after Makoto Tamada’s victory in 2004, the circuit was eventually demolished and the land regenerated to be part of Brazil’s 2016 Summer Olympics.
FAMOUS NAMES: those who made a mark for Brazil in MotoGP
The most synonymous name from Brazil on two wheels is Alex Barros; seven Grand Prix wins in a career that spanned from 1986 to 2007. Not only did he win with two manufacturers (Honda and Suzuki) but he also had podiums with five (Cagiva, Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha and Ducati). He’s also one of the few names to win both in MotoGP and World Superbike and whilst a world title eluded him, he remains one of the sport’s most prominent names from Brazil.
Then comes Diogo Moreira, who will be the first Brazilian in MotoGP since Barros himself. Moreira graduates as the reigning Moto2 World Champion and whilst he’s had success there, he’s also a Moto3 Grand Prix winner. Coming from Sao Paulo, just like Barros before him, he gave his country a first World Champion and celebrated in true Brazilian style with a homage to the nation’s number one motorsport legend Ayrton Senna. The first-ever Grand Prix podium for Brazil did come in the 1970s, with Adu-Celso Santos with P3 in the Swedish GP of 1973 in the 250cc class before a win in the 350cc category at Jerez. As the first-ever Brazilian to race in MotoGP, he helped put the country on the motorcycle racing map whilst since, Eric Granado has made Grand Prix starts and taken victories in MotoE™.