Hot News: MotoGP is back in business in Brazil. After a titanic opening game in Thailand, we’re heading west for a much-anticipated return to Brazil – leading the Championship for the first time.
Has it caught your breath yet? After a long winter, the opening of the season in Thailand certainly did not disappoint, with two spectacular performances that opened our account for 2026. Now we go to Brazil for the first time in more than two decades, with the first long-distance race in Goiânia and with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) leading the championship for the first time. We have a homegrown hero, a new pecking order (so far!) and a lot of unknowns that we don’t want to call up and onto the grid. But if Buriram wasn’t predictable enough, Brazil could prove even more as the field of 22 riders prepare to take on an entirely new field each.
Leading the charge: Acosta and KTM
Controversial? For some. But the first Tissot Sprint win was for Acosta in Thailand. With no inches to be given, the head-to-head between the #37 and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) was an incredible way to start proceedings in 2026, and Acosta is world championship leader and leader after backing up his impressive effort with a podium finish on Sunday, heading into Brazil’s MotoGP. Sunday’s victory wasn’t what Acosta wanted, but it was a weekend that proved drastic steps have been taken compared to last season. Can that first 25-pointer reach Goiania? That’s the question we’re all asking about early title frontrunners.
In the other Red Bull KTM factory racing box, Brad Binder also had a positive time in Thailand. Acosta took most of the KTM points, but the South African’s double top seven means he is P6 in the championship heading into Round 2. That will give Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Innea Bastinini and Maverick Vinales even more hunger this weekend. He suffered a truly low-key weekend in Buriram, the last of which showed promising promise at the Sepang test, with Bastianini taking P12 to ensure some points for Gunter Steiner’s team. With Acosta leading the championship and Binder finding some form, there is clear momentum on the RC16 for the two Tech3 Team MotoGP winners to take out.
Wake up, Aprilia
They’ve threatened to up the ante during pre-season, but delivering the goods in a Grand Prix setting is a different ball game – and on Sunday afternoon Bezecchi and Aprilia were unstoppable. Acosta may have led the championship, but he believed leaving Thailand had bridged the one-factory gap with Ducati. Maybe more than just fixing the bridge?
It’s still early days to call it, but Bezeci was a very good rider at a track that Marc Marquez and Ducati cleaned up a year ago. The #72 slipped in the Sprint, but lap record pole position and Sunday’s trip to P1, with a double podium from Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) looks like the winner of the 2024 title, and Ai Ogurax (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) had a premier camp. In the standings heading into Brazil, the quartets are P2, P3, P4 and P5. So now, it’s just a matter of trying to support Thailand’s success in an unfamiliar territory – for everyone.
Ducati on a mission to get back
Buriram certainly wasn’t what the reigning champions had on the menu in Round 1 – nor was it what many expected. But that’s often MotoGP. And with a ridiculous 88 consecutive stage wins, Ducati are certainly not far behind and it will be the Brazilian’s mission to bounce back. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) has been leading Ducati in the South American championship in Italy beaming positive luck – and crying bad luck – in Thailand, so maybe the odds will change in Goiânia?
That’s what reigning MotoGP king Marc Marquez is hoping for. An unlucky, rare rear tire puncture cost the #93 a podium in Thailand on Sunday, so the seven-time world champion visits Brazil 23 points clear of Buriram Sprint rival Acosta. No one is counting on the world champion (we’ve covered the sport before, don’t worry), especially on an even playing field this weekend. Marc Marquez’s record in new tracks is second to none. Even though Bezechichi is the most visible thing in your group…
On the other side of the red garage, a lack of front-end feel and different conditions for the test marred what looked to be a brilliant weekend for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in Thailand. The Italian and last year’s runner-up Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) had a weekend to look forward to – especially the second away from the Chang International sector with zero points against Peco Eight. With his return now confirmed, Fermin Aldeguer will be hoping to get his lessons in early and get some feedback on his return to racing in the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP.
Behind Di Giannantonio and Marc Marquez in the championship, meanwhile, is Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who has shown some strong flashes of speed in pre-season and Thailand. It’s a special weekend coming up for the rider with Brazilian roots, and the #21 is looking forward to making it a weekend to remember.
MOREIRA arrived at the starting point
About our home hero Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) promises a warm welcome this weekend, as the MotoGP rookie lands in Brazil with a points finish in his first attempt. It was a weekend that quietly impressed him. Now, with the home crowd on the sidelines and no one in Goiânia with any knowledge on MotoGP bikes, more points are surely left for the Brazil #11 in what is expected to be a special weekend.
build up
There was more bad luck for Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) in Thailand on Sunday after an issue halted the 2020 world champion’s healthy points haul. Mir was HRC’s leading light in Round 1, but a top 10 for teammate Luca Marini, a point for Johan Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) and the aforementioned Moreira meant it was a good start for HRC – but not enough, based on their self-adjusted 2026 objectives. It’s not where MotoGP’s most successful factory wants to improve, but it’s still going anywhere. Mir performed well on Sunday, so maybe Brazil can deliver more? Certainly, no one else on the grid will come with knowledge of the track – this can be useful for those looking to progress.
Looking for more
Yama is definitely true. The era of the new V4-powered YZR-M1 did not start as smoothly as they would have liked, but there were positives – and now it is a place where no one else has called. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP duo Fabio Quattararo and Alex Rins got points on the board in Thailand and Torak Razgatli could put the weekend together with quality and primakoglu about Pramak Pramak. He asked a question. Although everything was new to him, the novice was right to mix with experienced runners. Teammate Jack Miller pushed back but put more miles on the clock as they looked to learn and improve. Results may not be the focus of the Brazilian GP – but perhaps a new circuit will put the Yamahas ahead of the front runners.
We’re resting up in brilliant Brazil for Round 2 from an amazing Thailand opener. With three days in the making, we can’t tell you how well the script works – just as we like it. Brazil, are you ready?
Post MotoGP: Brazilian Grand Prix preview It appeared at first Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle riding, racing and technology news.
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