Brazilian GP: Rain Delays MotoGP Practice – Schedule Updates

Heavy rainfall has delayed the start of practice sessions for the 2026 MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix at the Goiania Circuit, raising concerns about the viability of a full race schedule.

The first practice session for the Moto3 class, originally slated to begin at 9:00 a.m. Local time (12:00 GMT) on Friday, was postponed due to persistent downpours that have affected the region since Monday. Crews were observed working to clear the track of standing water and mud, particularly near the pit lane entrance, as rain continued to fall.

According to a championship announcement, the schedule has been revised. Moto3 practice will now begin at 10:00 a.m. Local time, with a ten-minute extension to the session. Moto2 practice is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Local time, likewise with a ten-minute extension. MotoGP’s first practice session (FP1) has been pushed back to 12:05 p.m. Local time, an hour later than initially planned.

The main practice session has been shortened from 75 minutes to 60 minutes and will now commence at 4:00 p.m. Local time. The decision to adjust the schedule was made under the supervision of FIM MotoGP safety director Tome Alfonso and Loris Capirossi, who oversees rider safety at grand prix events, after confirming the track surface was rideable, albeit wet.

Despite the challenging conditions, the Moto3 class did begin practice at 10:00 a.m. Local time, with riders switching to wet-weather tires. Veda Pratama of Honda Team Asia was the first rider to capture to the track, followed by a group of four riders, and then the remainder of the 25-rider Moto3 grid.

The track conditions have been described as “super dirty” by riders, with significant amounts of debris washed onto the asphalt from access roads due to the heavy rain and flooding, according to reports. Cleanup efforts have involved water tankers and high-pressure hoses, but the intermittent rainfall continues to hamper preparations.

Notably, prisoners have been involved in the cleanup work at Goiania ahead of the Grand Prix, assisting with the removal of debris and preparation of the circuit.